Margaret Ethel Ridley's Obituary
Margaret grew up in Brighton, England. In her early twenties, while on holiday in Austria, she was swept off her feet by a handsome American soldier who, after a brief, long distance courtship, became her life’s companion. After marrying Jim Ridley in Brighton in 1955, the newlyweds boarded a troop transport ship and settled in Lexington, Kentucky. She was proud to become an American citizen in 1972, but Margaret never lost her British taste for afternoon tea which she enjoyed daily in her later years.
Jim’s busy career with John Deere took the couple and their three young daughters to posts across Indiana and Michigan before landing in Germantown, TN in 1973. During this time, the couple built many lifelong friendships everywhere they lived. Margaret was a wonderful hostess preparing many holiday celebrations for family and welcoming friends for cards and board games. Margaret was a talented baker and seamstress who took great pleasure in baking special birthday cakes and making fantastic Halloween costumes, and later prom dresses, for her girls. Later she loved visits from her grandchildren for whom she baked each one’s favorite cookies and other sweet treats. She was looking forward to the arrival of her first great granddaughter later this fall.
After retirement, Margaret and Jim lived on Collinswood Drive in Olive Branch, MS for 25+ years. She was an active member of Maples Methodist Church where she joined a knitting group and made hundreds of caps for cancer patients at St. Jude and area hospitals, as well as in support of children in need in the community. She was an avid reader, a fan of Jeopardy, and looked forward to working the New York Times crossword puzzle each week. Margaret will be remembered for her extreme kindness and quick wit. She’ll be greatly missed by Jim, her husband of 69 years who tenderly cared for her over the last few years, and her daughters Kathryn Ridley Ford (Steve), Barbara Person (Curtis III), Jean Soro (Phil), and grandchildren Curtis Person IV (Valarie), Cody Person, Caroline Soro, Will Soro, and Ridley Soro.
The family is forever grateful to the wonderful nurses of the cardiac stepdown unit at Germantown Methodist hospital. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or First Global Methodist Church of Olive Branch.
Visitation will take place on Sunday, August 25, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Memorial Park Funeral Home.
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