Kelly Nicole Ridder's Obituary
Dr. Kelly Nicole Ridder, 29, of Memphis, Tennessee died September 17, 2013. Kelly was the daughter of Robert and Lorrie Ridder. She was born on November 26, 1983 in Morehead City, North Carolina while her father was serving in the Marine Corps. Kelly graduated from St. Mary’s Episcopal School in 2002. She received her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia in 2005. She received her Doctorate of Medicine from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine in Memphis, Tennessee in May of 2011 and entered her residency in Neurology. Kelly was simply the radiant center of her family. Her loving spirit and healing energy embraced everyone in her presence. Kelly’s greatest gift was her profound sense of empathy and understanding for others. Even as a child she was a natural nurturer. She embraced medicine foremost for the opportunity that it provided for her to care for others and offer positive moments in their lives. She was inspired by the power to calm worried minds and help heal sick bodies. Kelly shared her love and support with her family and friends through cards, daily hugs, and loving words. She put others first in her life before herself, and in that, found joy. Kelly’s loving and open heart showed no bounds to new friends, new people. She brought joy and happiness to all who knew her. We will all have a hole in our lives where Kelly used to be. Kelly is survived by her parents, Bob and Lorrie, her sister Kaitlin (Ridder) Jaqua and brother-in-law Benjamin Jaqua of Memphis, Tennessee; her grandmother, Sis Railey of Oakland, Maryland, her grandfather, Bobby Ridder of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, her Uncles and Aunts Greg and Pam Komar, Jimmy and Line Railey, Nancy Railey, Tracy and Danny Helmick, Robin and Cecil Tasker, boyfriend Michael Roelker, loving cousins, grand-uncles and aunts, and friends. Visitation will be 5-6:30 p.m., Friday, September 20 at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. Funeral Mass will be 1 p.m., Saturday, September 21 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Dr. Kelly N. Ridder Memorial Fund at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, 60 S Perkins Rd Memphis, TN 38117.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, (901)767-8930, “Behind the Stone Wall”..
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