Gloria Beryl Hatten Riggin

Memorial Services for Mrs. Gloria Beryl Hatten Riggin, 89, of Monroe, LA will be held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, June 22, 2017, at Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe, LA with Rev. Johnny Hankins officiating. Interment will follow in Mulhearn Memorial Park in Monroe, LA under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe, LA.
The trumpets sounded, the gates were opened and our Lord Jesus Christ welcomed home his faithful servant Gloria “Beryl” Hatten Riggin. Born August 8, 1927 in Sikes, LA to the union of William Joel Hatten and Emma Ann Erskins, she was the youngest of eight daughters. She began her employment with Southern Bell Telephone Co. as a telephone operator at the age of 17 and retired 39 years later as cable repair manager. In 1959 she joined Brownville Methodist Church which later became Ashbury Methodist Church. As long as her health permitted she was an active member, a member of the choir and supported most of the church activities.
One of her favorite activities was working in her flower gardens and maintaining her lawn. She was very proud that she won the best kept lawn of the month on two occasions, she continued to maintain her lawn and flowers until age 73 at which she broke her ankle and was no longer capable.
Beryl graduated from Ouachita Parish High School in 1944 where she was a class favorite and a member of the choir. She married her childhood sweetheart, Burton Riggin, in 1946 and the two of them set their course in life and raised their three children in a loving and god-fearing home in West Monroe. They shared their love and happiness until Burton’s death in 2007. She was a compassionate and caring person that always looked to God’s direction in her daily life. As a Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother she was a blessing from God and we loved her beyond measure. We will miss her dearly but rejoice in knowing she is reunited with her family she loved so much.
Beryl is preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Roger Stephen Riggin, Sisters and Brothers-in-law: Winnie and Dock Kelly, Erma and Alvin Willis, Lula and Lawrence Talbert, Lois and Johnnie West, Maude and Mike Simon, Dorthey and John Duffy, Verna and John Blakenship.
Survivors include: son Ronnie Riggin and wife Pam of Calhoun, daughter Gloria Riggin of Monroe, grandchildren: Laine Mulhearn and husband Butch, Monica Frost and husband Ken, Holly Hutson, Joey Riggin and wife Hannah, Mike Ramsey, Bryan Ramsey and wife Melissa, Wendy Ballesteros and husband Xavier, Stephanie Rooney and husband Brian, Alfie Smith, Anthony Riggin and wife Renea, 20 great grandchildren and a host of other relatives including a very special neice Yvonne Hightower and husband Lemmie.
The family would like to thank Heart of Hospice and particularly Dr. Wade, Nurse Nita and CNA’s Angelia and Loretta for the compassionate care they provided in her most difficult days. Also a special thanks to Ouachita Council on Aging and Mrs. Georgia Woods for the wonderful services they provided.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., Wednesday, June 21, 2017, at Mulhearn Funeral Home West Monroe, LA.
In lieu of flowers please send any memorials to Ashbury Methodist Church, The Ouachita Council on Aging or a charity of your choice.