Published: June 29, 2009 11:21 am      

Obituaries - June 28, 2009

LEWIS CALVIN RIGLER

August 7, 1914 – June 25, 2009

Retired Texas Ranger Lewis C. Rigler, 94, passed away June 25, 2009 at Muenster Rehabilitation Center after a long battle with cancer. Rigler was the second oldest living retired Ranger.

Funeral services are set for 10 a.m. on Monday, June 29, 2009, at the First Baptist Church in Gainesville with the Reverend Don Yeager officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

Lewis Rigler was born on Aug. 7, 1914, in Lorena to John William and Sadie Willie Rigler. He was six years old when his father died of typhoid fever, leaving a wife and four children with no means of support. Lewis was sent to live and work on an uncle’s farm outside Lorena.

In the memoir he wrote more than 60 years later, Rigler described sitting at the edge of the cotton field many mornings, waiting for the first light to begin picking. In spite of the hard work, he kept up with his schoolwork, graduating from high school in 1931, and always dreamed of a better life. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933, then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1935. He met and married Leah Machacek, a surgical nurse, left the Army and began studying veterinary science at Texas A&M College.

When the first of his three sons was born, he left college and began his training with the Department of Public Safety in 1941. He served as a State Trooper in Grand Prairie until he received an appointment to the Texas Rangers and was assigned to Company B in Gainesville in 1947.

After 23 years of marriage, Leah passed away in 1960. Rigler thought he would never marry again, but he met a young lady named Joyce Tucker Tempel and her five young daughters, and that changed his mind. They married in 1963, he adopted five girls, and he said raising his daughters kept him young.

Rigler was active in many community and business affairs, including the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club. He was Director of the North Texas Bank and a longtime member of the Former Texas Rangers Association.

He retired in 1977 from the Department of Public Safety, but he never stopped being a Ranger. He was always blessed with the camaraderie of a fine group of Texas law enforcement officers and associates.

Dallas Morning News columnist Kent Biffle wrote of Rigler, “You won’t peg Lewis Rigler right off as a man who wore a Texas Ranger badge for three decades. He shuns big hats, tall boots and clenched-teeth conversations. Five-nine with a paunch, Ranger Rigler once broke his wrist in a fall from a Shetland pony.”

After his retirement from the Rangers, Rigler entered the field of investment and business consultation and remained active, going to his office six days a week, until poor health forced his retirement in 2007

Rigler is survived by his wife of 46 years, Joyce Tucker Tempel Rigler. He also leaves behind eight children and their spouses, Steve Rigler and wife Connie, Mike Rigler and wife Joanna, Erik Rigler and wife Judyth, Lynda Hacker and husband Jim, Charlotte Barnes and husband Mel, Patti Mercer and husband Rick, Diane Rigler, Janet Brazelton and husband Mark; 18 grandchildren and their spouses, Steven R. Rigler and wife Kerra, Blaine Rigler and wife Kathy, Paige Olsen and husband Scotty, Kelly Rigler, Leah Perryman, Jennifer Witt and husband John, Trevor Rigler and wife Jenny Jernigan, Jim Hacker, Sherry Hacker, Joyce Walterscheid and husband Jeff, Matthew Murrell, Michelle Kraal and husband Seth, Michael Mercer, Natalie Mercer, Jacob Ranger Blount and wife Kenzi, Gena Ettinger and husband Mark, Cody Brazelton and Ashley Brazelton; 15 great-grandchildren, Austin Rigler, Devin Rigler, Joshua Olsen, Grace Olsen, Liberty Perryman, Diesel Perryman, Ezekiel Rigler, Ezra Rigler, Devon Hacker, Bryce Hacker, Jasmine Hacker, Jaden Ranger Walterscheid, Conner Walterscheid, Brady Walterscheid, Trenton Michael Ranger Blount and special cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Janette and Dorothy; brother, Linville and his first wife, Leah.

Pallbearers will be grandsons Michael Mercer, Jacob Ranger Blount, Steven R. Rigler, Blaine Rigler, Matthew Murrell, Trevor Rigler, Jimmy Hacker, Cody Brazelton, and Tommy Vaughn.

Honorary pallbearers will be William Sullivant, Belvin Harris, Dr. James Cole, Phil Adams, Van Knight, Robert Martindale, Richard Klement, Everett Marler, Boyd Ware and Dr. Edd Advincula.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. James Cole, Dr. Edd Advincula and all the staff of the Muenster Rehabilitation Center for their loving care and concern. Special thanks for his caregivers Emilio Marin, Mae Evelyn Williams and Miriam Juarez for their tireless support and love.

Visitation is planned for Sunday, June 28, 2009, from 3-5 p.m. at the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lewis C. Rigler Scholarship Fund at North Texas Central College, 1525 W. California, Gainesville, TX; The First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 214 S. Denton Street, Gainesville, TX or the charity of one’s choice.

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JOYCE (RICHEY) PRICE

Funeral services for Joyce (Richey) Price, 74, of Gainesville are set for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2009 at Clement-Keel Chapel with Rev. Milton Pledger officiating.

Burial will follow in New Rest Haven Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Clement-Keel Funeral Home.

Mrs. Joyce (Richey) Price died June 25, 2009 at Denton Regional Hospital, surrounded by her beloved family.

She was born on Jan. 7, 1935 in Cooke County to Fred Robert and Dorothy B. (Wyatt) Richey. She had worked at Linda Jo’s Shoe Factory and was a Cook at the Era ISD. She loved to crochet.

Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Carvin Mosley of Forestburg and Vickie and Tim Hess of Muenster; sons and daughter-in-law, Marc Barnes of Nocona and Sonny and Denise Barnes of Gainesville; grandchildren, Jessey, Jake, Kevin, Carly, Cory, John, Jeremy, Jesse and Tracey; great-grandchildren, Tanner, Cance and Riley; brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert and Velma Richey of Moss Lake and Larry and Linda Richey of Sivells Bend and uncle, T.C. Wyatt of Winnsboro and her sister Margaret Reed of Wichita Falls.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Price in 2002 and grandparents, Will and Rilla Wyatt.

Pallbearers are Bobby Richey, Billy Richey, Johnny Richey, Tim Richey, Scott Reed, Don Hunter and Jason Hunter.

Visitation is set from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be sent to Solaris Hospice, 3201 Teasley Rd. Box 10, Denton, TX 76210 or Always Better Care Home Health, 2009 Independent St. Suite 100, Sherman, TX 75090.

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JANET LEE BROOKS

Graveside services for Janet Lee Brooks, 74, of Gainesville are set for Monday June 29,2009 at 2 p.m. in Fairview Cemetery under the direction of the Geo. J. Carroll and Son Funeral Home.

Janet died on June 26,2009 at North Texas Medical Center.

She is survived by sons Tipp, Lynn and Marcus Brooks.

There is no visitation planned.

You may sign the on-line registry at geojcarroll.com.





CARL WADE

Friends are holding a memorial for Carl Wade, 59, of Gainesville, for all to attend at the Lake Kiowa Pavilion at 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, 2009.

Carl Wade passed away Friday, June 19, 2009.

He is survived by his wife, Gayla; children, Carl Wade Jr. “Bubba” of Denton and Carla Edgett of Lake Kiowa; brother, Cody Wade of Brownwood and sister, Linda Eckols of Brownwood.