Source: http://www.funeralplan.com/marshallfuneralhome/archive?id=38661
Oneita Riggs
Marshall Funeral Home Chapel
Oneita McCarty Riggs was born June 8, 1905 at Dixie, Carter County, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) to Marcellus McCarty and Annie Elizabeth Bryant McCarty and passed away January 30, 2005, Alva, Oklahoma, at the age of 99 years, 7 months, and 22 days. In her childhood, she lived in Beaver County near Guymon, Oklahoma, Littlefield, Texas, and Sayre, Oklahoma.
She graduated from Sayre High School and attended Southwestern State College, Weatherford, Oklahoma. She resided in Freedom, Capron, and Dacoma before moving to Alva in 1951.
She and her husband Sam were distributors for Ruth-Berry water pumps in Northwest Oklahoma, and the states of Kansas and Nebraska. They were exhibitors for over 25 years at the Kansas and Nebraska State Fair. She was chosen the Water Well Association Person of the Year in Kansas. In addition to assisting Sam with the water pump business, she went into the advertising specialty business in the mid 50's. In 1981, she suffered the loss of her business building on Flynn Street due to a fire. At age 78, she rebuilt in the same location, continuing in business until her retirement in 2001. Mrs. Riggs sold the advertising specialty business to Debra Walcott and her business building to Northwest Family Services.
Mrs. Riggs had CAS certification from the Speciality Advertising National Association. She was one of the first women in the United States to obtain the certification at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
She was a strong promoter of northwest Oklahoma, Woods County, Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Alva.
She resided at The Homestead Retirement Center in Alva.
Oneita was a very civic minded individual, active in many area organizations. She was a member of the Patrons Committee which formed the Alva Youth Council. Others dear to her were the Iris Unit of the Alva Garden Club, where she was a certified Oklahoma National Flower Show Judge and Conservation and Civic Improvement Chairs. She headed the ``Don't be a Litterbug'' Campaign of the Alva Garden Club Council, Northwest District Chairman of the Junior Garden Club of Oklahoma Garden Club. Additionally she was past president of Rotary Anns, American Legion Auxiliary, Washington School PTA, BPW, and was selected BPW Woman of the Year in 1986.
She volunteered with the National Polio Foundation March of Dimes, Great Salt Plains Boy Scouts Council, was Cub Scout Den Mother for Troop 92, member of the Woods County Democratic Women's Council, and Woods County Democratic Central Committee. She was very active in Women of the Moose and held the degrees of Academy of Friendship and College of Regents.
She was preceded in her death by her husband, Sam Riggs, one son, Lewis Mack Crutchfield; and two step-daughters, Dorothy Riggs Rosebery and Delores Riggs Murrow.
Surviving are sons, Eugene Crutchfield of Overland Park, Kansas, and Samuel M. and his wife Lois, of Lakewood, Colorado; one sister, Dorothy Faye McCarty of Bandera, Texas; daughter-in-laws, Jean Crutchfield of Coffeyville, Kansas and Virginia Crutchfield of Warner Robins, Georgia. Grandchildren are Kathy Wright of Marietta, Georgia, Leah Neal of Dublin, Georgia, Patricia Teeter of Lenexa, Kansas, Charles Crutchfield of Overland Park, Kansas, Robert Crutchfield of Austin, Texas; Lt. Col. James Crutchfield of Scott AFB, Illinois, Marsha Riggs Abbott of Portola Valley, California, and Lora Riggs Wadsworth of Pacific Palisades, California. She had 18 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 3, 2005, at Marshall Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Greg Hook, pastor of the Alva First Baptist Church officiating. Interment will be in the Alva Municipal Cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva.
Memorial contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Randy Murrow Scholarship Fund.
230 Flynn
Alva, OK 73717