Deryl Calcote Riser

It is with enormous sadness we report our Dad, Deryl Riser, a member of the Greatest Generation has met his Lord in Heaven. Deryl Riser passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at a nursing home & rehabilitation center.

Our Dad was a resilient man. He tried his best to live to be able to see his beloved family again. Sadly due to the COVID pandemic lockdown of nursing homes, we have not been allowed to visit with him since March 12, 2020.

We have not been able to communicate by phone with him since August 4, because his cell phone was not given to him while in quarantine. By communicating the old-fashioned way with letters, we kept him updated. We wrote how much we loved him and missed him, of family goings-on, sent photographs of grandchildren and news of a new great-grandchild and homegrown tomatoes, etc.

Deryl was born in Ruston, Louisiana to Nathaniel and Viola Riser. Of seven children he was the youngest and is the last of those seven to depart this earth. Growing up as part of a depression-era family, he worked hard on the farm helping his Dad raise chickens, cows, grow watermelons and sweet potatoes, and picking cotton, among other things. He learned how to be independent, frugal, and self-sufficient. He was a man of many talents and skills which he used in his working career. Being a handyman at heart, he was always willing to help someone in need. As one nephew related, “Uncle Deryl could build anything with little or no money”.

His hobbies were fixing things, wood-working, painting, jigsaw puzzles, and playing Skip-Bo with our Mom and good friends. He loved goofy, cool, and funky socks; peanut butter-filled pretzels, and Brach’s peppermints. His favorite hamburger was Red Robbin’s Whiskey River hamburger. He always had great stories to tell to entertain family and friends.

Dad was not outwardly spiritual. He was quiet about his faith, but we know he loved the Lord, Jesus. On the last day of his life, while speaking to his physical therapist, he looked at her, but at the same time beyond her. This was Dad’s spiritual experience on earth before passing on to meet God in Heaven.

He was a proud US military veteran, serving in the Army, during and after World War II. He was a member of the Combat Engineers, ranked as Technician Fifth Grade Regular Army. He spent time in France, Japan, and Germany. In Germany he met Elisabeth, a beautiful young German woman. They fell in love and married in Fulda, Germany in 1948. The Berlin Blockade, an historical part of the Cold War, occurred soon after their marriage and they had to almost immediately leave Germany for the United States. Dad took his bride to Louisiana to meet his very large family for the first time. Dad and Mom lived in Ruston, LA; Longview, TX; Waco, TX; and lastly Arlington, TX during their 61 years and 2 months of marriage. His beloved wife and our beloved Mom died in 2009.

The last years of his life, before numerous health issues required him to move to a nursing care facility, were spent in an independent living facility. He spent a memorable 6 years at Greenfield (now Emerson). He made many wonderful friends among the residents and staff. We are ever so grateful to those folks for giving him happiness again after Mom died and the stroke he suffered. There he participated in many activities including Skip-Bo and bingo (winning toiletries, kleenex, paper towels and cat treats for his roommate cat, Hans and entertaining residents and staff alike with his many jokes.

Deryl was predeceased by his parents, his wife Elisabeth, a baby son, and 4 brothers and 2 sisters and many other family members..

Deryl’s survivors are Children: Barbara (Larry) Howser, Regina (Joe) Clark all of Arlington, TX; Stephen (Lee Ann) Riser of Axtell, TX;

Grandchildren: Michael Howser of Arlington, TX; Marcus (Robyn) Howser of Batavia (Cincinnati), Ohio; Corey (Ali) Clark and Chase (Tiffany) Clark all of Arlington, TX; Stephanie (Bryan) Baugh of Waco, TX; and Jeremy (Jennifer) Riser of Wichita, KS.

Great-Grandchildren: Noah and Marley Howser and Brayden and Wayde Howard of Batavia (Cincinnati), Ohio; Luke Howser of Waco, TX; Amelia Clark and her sibling in the womb of Arlington, TX; and Rylan Baugh of Waco, TX.

He also is survived by many nieces and nephews and a large, loving group of friends.

We want to recognize his roommate at the nursing care facility. Blake Foster had his own serious physical health issues, but was a very good friend and roommate to Dad. He watched out for Dad helping him in ways that Dad could not help himself. Not by chance, but by God’s plan, Blake passed away the day before Dad passed into Heaven. Thank you Blake and we know you rest in the peace of God.

A Celebration of Life memorial for Deryl and Elisabeth will be held on 29 May 2021 when their ashes will be scattered near the grave of the baby son they lost. May 29 would be their 73rd wedding anniversary.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Wounded Warriors organization https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate or https://www.National Right to Life

https://www.nrlc.org/