Obituary of Mary Ethel Tackett Ritchie

Services for Mary Ethel Tackett Ritchie, 98, Troup, are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Friday, December 19, at the Troup Church of Christ with Allen Ritchie, Marcom Herren, and Jim Heath officiating. Burial will be in the Pinecrest Cemetery, Troup under the direction of Cottle Funeral Home, Troup. Mrs. Ritchie died Tuesday, December 16, 2008, at her residence. She was born July 18, 1910 in Sabinal to the late Isaac Elisha Tackett and Micca Ethel Fuston Tackett. She was a longtime resident of Troup and was a 1926 graduate of Troup High School. She received her Bachelor Degree of Bible from Abilene Christian University. Mrs. Ritchie was co-owner of Troup Nursery. She was an active member of numerous Churches of Christ in East Texas area where her husband served as minister. She was currently a member of the Troup Church of Christ. Mrs. Ritchie was preceded in death by her husband, Eris A. Ritchie, Sr., in 1992. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Judy Ritchie, brothers, Walter Lee Tackett and Fuston Tackett, and sisters, Roberta Dickey and Bessie May Bailey. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Eris A. Ritchie, Jr. and Annita Ritchie, Cisco, and Joe T. and Ann Ritchie, Salado; a daughter, Janelle Lowrance, Troup; a sister, Grace Fentress, Troup; nine grandchildren, Marcom E. Herren, Joe Allen Ritchie, Matthew Eris Ritchie, Julie Southworth, Eric R. Herren, Robin R. Peace, Holly Williams, Ashley Hembree, and Michael Ritchie; 20 great granchildren; and a great great grandson. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. If desired, memorials may be made to the Eris and Mary Ethel Tackett Ritchie Endowed Scholarship Fund, Abilene Christian University, P.O.B. 29100, Abilene,TX 79699. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday, December 18, from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.