Edith Eleanor Riddle died on Sunday, October 25, 2015. She was 87.
Edith was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on October 18, 1928, to Meta Bewersdorf and Albert Blasius, a lineman from Illinois. She grew up in the Maywood Park area just east of Chicago and married John Riddle on September 4, 1948, and had a daughter, Pamela Jean. Though they spent many of their years in northern Illinois, they lived several years in Florida and a year in Michigan. They retired to Durango, Colorado, and later bought a home in Aztec, New Mexico. After 56 happy years of marriage, she was widowed in 2004 when she lost Jonny to cancer. In 2005, she moved to Moab, where she spent her final years living close to her daughter and grandson.
Edith loved the natural world and had a keen interest in rocks, minerals and local geology, along with arrowheads and other Midwestern archaeology. She also collected knives and was an old car buff. She could grow anything and always knew something about a plant or animal in question. But her love was horses. Though she was never able to ride as a child, she passed her love of horses on to her daughter. At 45, as her daughter was progressing in riding, Edith began taking riding lessons, learning to ride well and progressing to jumping. She also helped manage a small show barn and thoroughbred broodmare facility in Kankakee, Illinois.
Edith was a gentle soul with a kind heart and an open mind. She loved to talk to people and truly appreciated each individual person for who they were without judgment. She will be sorely missed by family and friends.
She is survived by her brother, Roy Blasius; her daughter, Pam; her grandson, Jerald Ashurst; and her great-grand daughter, Trinity Ashurst.
At Edith’s request, cremation has taken place and a memorial Service will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.
