Cecil Dale Riddle

Cecil Dale Riddle, 95, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, went to be with the Lord on July 28, 2026. A visitation is scheduled for Monday August 3, 2026, in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation is 5 – 7 pm.

The Funeral Service will be on August 4, 2026, at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel at 10 am. The interment will be at the National Cemetery in Fort Smith, AR with Honor Guard at 11 am. Rev. Steve Mayhew officiating.

Cecil was born in Stigler, OK on August 13, 1930, to parents Adley Paul Riddle Sr. and Eva Lena (Lynch) Riddle. Cecil married Mary Lou McMurray on January 26, 1962. They lived in Ft. Smith, AR on the same street for 37 wonderful years. Cecil and Mary Lou had two daughters, Virginia and Donna.

Cecil began working at Ballman-Cumming Furniture on February 23, 1952. Cecil was employed with Ballman-Cumming until being drafted into the Army in May of 1952. During his time in the Army Cecil served in Germany with the 807-engineer light equipment company. Cecil earned the rank of Corporal on September 24, 1953. After the service Cecil returned to Ballman-Cumming until July of 1970, then began working for Mead Containers the same month and year. Cecil worked for Mead Containers for 25 years and retired in 1995.

After the death of Mary Lou in 1999, Cecil then married Emma Rose (Coots) in May 2003. They had a blessed marriage for 22 years.

Cecil was preceded in death by his parents, Adley Paul Sr. and Eva Riddle; brothers: Marion Riddle, Flaude Riddle, Noel Riddle, Murriel Riddle, Jr. Riddle and Orvis Riddle; sisters: Amel Tatum and Lola Smith; wives: Mary Lou Riddle and Emma Rose Riddle, and stepdaughter Vickie Graves.

Cecil is survived by his sister, Ruth Wilson of Roland OK; daughters: Virginia Mayhew and husband Steve of McAlester OK, and Donna Sorrels and husband Harley of Van Buren, AR; grandsons: Chris Mayhew, Nathanael Mayhew, Zachary Sorrels, Brian Potocki and Jeremy Potocki; granddaughters: Ashley Elde and Amber Smith; great grandsons: Loki Pullen and Miller Sorrels; great granddaughters: Summer Steel and Murphie Barber, in addition to many nieces, nephews, and close friends.

Cecil has been described as one of the humblest of men. He was always a quiet man, but when he spoke you wanted to listen. He loved his family and he worked so hard to make sure they had everything they needed. He had a lot of fun, and he loved to cut up and laugh. He really enjoyed getting together with family and friends, telling stories and reminiscing of days gone by. He was a big fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Arkansas Razorbacks. Cecil loved to work in his garden, gathering pecans, and enjoyed hunting and fishing. One of his favorite hobbies was to take his metal detector and find special treasures. He even had a tackle box full of the little things he had found.

Cecil was a prince of a man, and he had a caring heart. Cecil was a man of Faith in Jesus Christ. Today he is enjoying all the promises of God as he has been reunited with loved ones who had gone on before. We are all so much richer knowing this wonderful, thoughtful and humble man.

Cecil was truly loved and will be missed by all.