Mary Lou Rikeman

Mary Lou (Garza) Rikeman, beloved, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend took flight to be with our Lord and Savior on May 26, 2026 surrounded by her loving family, in Pasadena, TX.

She was born on August 13, 1946 in McAllen, TX, where she lived until she graduated from McAllen High School in May of 1965. She was raised with a strong Catholic upbringing by her late parents, Enrique and Josefina Garza. Although they lived in a small home, it was filled with kids and lots of love. Mary Lou was the youngest of 12 children. She was also the last of her siblings to pass from this life to her Heavenly home. She was 79 years old, and just 79 days shy of turning 80.

In 1965, Mary Lou moved to Pasadena, TX where she attended San Jacinto Jr. College. Afterwards, she went to work at the Pasadena Public Library, which is when she really discovered her love of reading and research. On January 23, 1971 Mary Lou married William “Bill” Albert Rikeman, and the following year, on May 29, 1972 they welcomed their one and only child, Everett Henry “Rick” Rikeman. When Rick was a few months old, they moved to Metairie LA for Bill’s work, where they lived for a short time until moving to Garland, TX. A short time later work brought them back home to Pasadena, where they lived together until Bill’s death, in February, 1979. Rick was just 6 years old at the time. Several years later, Mary Lou left her Librarian job and accepted a position with the Social Security Administration at their Pasadena office. There she worked as a Claims Rep until she retired in August, 2005. Missing the interaction of co-workers, she returned back to the workforce for a brief few years to work at H&R Block in Pasadena. It was in 2001 that Mary Lou moved to Deer Park, TX, where she lived out the remaining years of her life.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 8 years, William “Bill” Albert Rikeman; her parents, Enrique “Henry” Guadalupe Garza and Josefina Baldarena Garza; her (11) siblings, Henriqueta “Queta” Martinez, Beatrice “Bea” Arthur, Viola Robinson, Henry Garza, Irene Gongora, Ruben Garza, Margaret “Maggie” Kitch, Olga Arroyo, Grace Gonzalez, Helen Williams and Ray Garza.

She is survived by her son, Everett “Rick” Rikeman, and his wife Amanda; her granddaughter, Amanda Rikeman, and her husband Jake Norman; her grandson, William Rikeman, and his wife Mary; and great-grandson, William “Liam” Rikeman. She also leaves behind a large legacy of many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and many other family members and friends who loved her.

She left behind a legacy of love, kindness, devotion, and a quiet strength that will continue to inspire all who knew her. She lived her life with a generous spirit. Her presence brought comfort, as she had a gentleness that lifted others. And her example reminded others that a life lived with love, is a life that truly matters.

Mary Lou’s Professional life as a Librarian, and as a civil servant for the Government was balanced by a lifetime of “giving back” to her community. She took pride in years of volunteer work, assisting Senior Citizens in preparing their Income Tax Returns, which she did at the Pasadena Library.

She was a Member of St. Pius V Catholic Church in Pasadena for many years, and frequently volunteered to work the Church pantry. She became a Eucharistic Minister, and often served bread and wine to other parishioners during mass communion.

She, along with several of her sisters, was a Member of the Madison Jobe Senior Community Center in Pasadena (for 25+ years). She loved spending time there, volunteering in the kitchen for special events, and socializing with all the friends she came to know and love there, playing cards, dominoes, and taking trips together. It was at the Center, in later life, that she met Lee Barker, whom she often referred to as the love of her life. They quickly became soul mates, and they remained lovingly devoted to one another, dating for years, until he passed in May of 2021. Although her visits to the Center were never quite the same without his presence, she remained active there and continued to get together with other member friends several times a week, up until the last year when she was no longer able to drive.

Anyone who knew Mary Lou knows she Loved her family and she took every opportunity she could to spend time with them. She especially treasured all the times she spent with her sisters as they got older. Whether it was shopping, playing dominos or cards, traveling together, or gathering together in one of their kitchens to make their family’s traditional “Pan de Polvo” Mexican cookies, or “Tamales”, both of which she dearly loved and enjoyed sharing with her closest friends and co-workers over the years.

She always looked forward to the holidays, especially Easter, for family reunions. She enjoyed working her crossword puzzles, doing her family’s genealogy research, and watching her favorite TV shows. And she loved to read. So much so, she resorted to audio-books when reading got to be hard on her eyes. But her son, two grandchildren, and her great-grandson were among the greatest joys of her life. She treasured her time with them, and her love for them was evident in her every smile, and every moment shared together.

Though she is no longer physically present in our lives, her memory will live within all those who loved her, and the light she brought into the world remains, shining through the lives of all she touched.

Her family would like to give special thanks to all Mary Lou’s family and friends who filled her life with joy, and to the Members and Staff of The Madison Jobe Senior Center for their caring friendship.