Rachel Navratil Riggs died October 22, 2019, in Pasadena, Texas. She left for her heavenly home at the age of 93 years and 13 days old. She was born on October 9, 1926 in Nacogdoches, Texas to the parents, Charles L. Navratil and Carrie Bell Sumblin Navratil who passed away when she was eight years old. She then went to live with her mother’s sister, Maggie Roberts.
Her mother provided piano and dance lessons in tap and ballet, kept her hair curled like Shirley Temple, and bought her a beautiful miniature white dog she named Foxy. When her aunt and uncle moved to Pasadena, she would be educated and graduated from Pasadena High School, Pasadena, Texas. After graduation she worked in Texas City, Texas. Later in life she worked for eleven years at the United States Post Office in Pasadena, Texas until she retired to care for her Aunt Maggie.
You found a blessing when you met this special lady who loved and walked with her Lord in his word. Galatians 5:22 fruits of the spirit guided her life. Her many trials of life were faced with Philippians 4:1, as she did all things through Christ which strengthened her. She was positive, loving, caring, and giving. She was raised in an Assembly of God church.
When she met Joe Riggs, he was working in Texas City, Texas. He smoked, drank liquor, and was not going to church. By the time they married, he had stopped smoking, drinking, and was attending church with her.
She had two girls and twin boys within three years and four months. She handled all the household chores, the cooking of meals, making homemade ice cream, canning of fruits, handling the money with Joe’s lead, however, she never sewed although her father was a tailor and had his own store. Joe became good at hemming his own pants and sewing on the machine he had bought for her. She walked everywhere until Joe taught her to drive after their children were in elementary school.
She loved her family and the home her husband, Joe Earl Riggs, Jr., built. As the years went by, the land was filled with pear, pecan, fig, and lemon trees that brought birds, squirrels, cats, possums, raccoons, rabbits, a ferret, a hen, dogs, and a pond once holding large gold fish. The yard was a forest of plants and flowers from various colored roses and azaleas, purple wisteria, four o’clocks, hibiscus, ligustrum, and many others. They both loved all of God’s creation. She was as happy as Joe when her husband’s garden of tomatoes and okra were harvested. Each season, canning would begin with pears and figs and even watermelon. As she aged she enjoyed looking out the windows and seeing all the green, birds, and squirrels. Her many cats over the years provided humor and wonderful joy to her inside the house.
Her door was always open to repeat visits from family and friends who would just drop in. Dessert and coffee were always available. As her children grew and left home she would meet elderly widowed ladies. She would help them and they would become part of the family. She had a servant heart. She did not sit idle. Even when she aged and could not stand or help you, she always ask, “Isn’t there something I should be doing?”
All who loved her dearly will never forget her genuine grace, sweetness, love, and giving heart. Many thanks to the wonderful caregivers who cared for our precious mother while needing hospice care.
She is survived by four children, daughter, Jo Ann Wingert (husband Barry) of Cypress, Texas, daughter, Judy Riggs of Webster, Texas, and twin sons, Joe Riggs of Magnolia, Texas, and Earl Riggs (wife Avola) of Pearland, Texas, grandchildren, Rachel Voyles (husband John, their twin children Madelyn and Noah) of Pearland, Texas and grandson, Mark Wilson (wife Belinda and two sons, Marshall and Micah) of Tomball, Texas, niece, Carrie Prince (husband Randy and son Austin and daughter Amanda) of Groves, Texas, and nephew, John Henry of Nederland, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Joe Earl Riggs, Jr and sister, Mrs. Charles Ann Henry.
Please join us in celebrating her life Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at the 11:30 a.m. service at Pasadena Funeral Home, 2203 Pasadena Blvd, Pasadena, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a no kill shelter for cats and dogs of your choice.
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