JoAnn Ridings

GILMER- Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, January 15, 2016 at Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma for JoAnn Ridings, 90, who passed away on Monday, January 11, 2016 in Gilmer, Texas. Reverend James Robinson will officiate. Visitation will be held at 1:00 P.M. until the time of service. A gathering of family and friends will be from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., Thursday, January 14, 2016, at Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer, Texas. She was born Saturday, September 26, 1925, to Porter and Amanda Shelnutt McBride in Durant. On February 24, 1946, she married Arthur Ridings Jr. after his return from military service and her return from Dallas where she worked for Travelers Insurance. A graduate of Durant High School, she later attended Southeastern State University and was a long-time member of Esther Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church where she served in various capacities. She was an active member of the National League of American Pen Women, Oklahoma Writers" Federation, Inc., and the local Red River Writers, where she served as president for four years. As a dedicated writer, she won numerous awards in various categories. Although her work has been published in Reader"s Digest, Saturday Evening Post, The Pen Woman, and others, her long-standing humor column, "Ridings on the Rim" (Durant Daily Democrat) was her pet project. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Arthur Ridings Jr., parents, and her sister Vera Haddock. She is survived by her son, Phillip Ridings and wife, Linda of Ft. Worth, TX; daughters, Toni Huggins and husband, Ken Haas of Gibsonton, FL, Marsha Birdwell of Gilmer, TX and Carla Anderson and husband, Mac of Waverly, TN; nine grandchildren, Cathy Manseau and husband, Tom, Melissa Ridings, Harlan Smith and wife, Ryanne Amor-Smith, Derik Smith, Rachel Roberts and husband, Bob, Shirley Wilson and husband, Ernie, John Anderson, Will Anderson and Lauren Anderson; four great-grandchildren, Kayla Smith, Peyton Smith, Catherine Wilson and Eric Wilson. Pallbearers for the service will be John Anderson, Will Anderson, Bob Roberts, and Ernie Wilson. Please leave online condolences at www.croleyfh.net.