Daniel Riggs

Dan was born on October 29, 1958, and lived a life full of grit, humor, talent, and love. He was, in every sense of the word, the man, the myth, the legend, a proud tradesman, a devoted father, and an unforgettable personality who left his mark everywhere he went.

Dan graduated from Jefferson High School and went on to become the kind of man who could fix, build, restore, drill, weld,troubleshoot, and improve just about anything. He had a gift for working with his hands and a brain wired for solving problems, especially mechanical ones. From cars to gas pumps, to watches and everything in between, Dan didn’t just “restore” things… he brought them back to life with pride and precision. If it was broken, he could fix it. If it wasn’t broken, he could still probably make it better or at least keep all the extra parts in his garage. Dan had more stuff than any man should legally be allowed to own, and if you needed something, odds are you went to Dan’s garage to find it. He admired good craftsmanship, whether it was under a hood or on a wrist.

He loved his yard, like he really loved it, the kind of love where the grass somehow knew it better behave. He had a deep appreciation for craftsmanship, hard work, and the simple satisfaction of seeing something done right. And if it wasn’t done right… Dan would definitely let you know.

He had a love for traveling and he especially loved trips to Hawaii, Mexico, and Lake Havasu, as well as outdoor adventures, especially deep-sea fishing and hunting. He didn’t just tell fishing stories, he was the story, a self-proclaimed game slayer and a bit of an outlaw.

He was famous for jokes that were wildly inappropriate and, out of love and respect, cannot be printed here, but anyone who knew him is already smiling. Dan’s life was full of character, wild shirts, humor, rough edges, and a whole lot of love. His legacy will live on through his daughters, grandchildren, family and friends through stories told at gatherings, laughter that comes out of nowhere, and that unmistakable Dan voice in everyone’s head saying exactly what they need to hear.

Above all else, Dan’s greatest loves were his two daughters Jessica and Alyssa, and if we are being honest, a cold Coors wasn’t far behind. They carry his legacy forward in the way they love fiercely, work hard, and tell it straight (whether people are ready or not). His devotion to his friends and family was constant, unquestionable, and deeply personal. He showed love through loyalty, protection, and being the guy you could always count on even if he made fun of you while doing it.

Dan was also a proud and amazing Papa to Braxton, Boston, Parker, and Sloan, who brought him joy and plenty of reasons to smile. Absolutely a ladies’ man right up to the end, legend has it he was still flirting with his nurse just moments earlier. That was Dan: charming, bold, unapologetic, and still trying to make people laugh, even on the way out.

We’ll miss him deeply.

But we will keep him in our hearts and talk about him forever.