Helen Ridley

Visitation for Helen Mary Ridley, 99, of Temple will be 6 - 8 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple. Private family services will be held at a later date.

Mrs. Ridley died Thursday, March 24, at Brookdale, a local care facility in Temple.

Helen Mary Ridley was born April 7, 1916 in Buffalo, New York to Michael Rose and Marie D'Aroczy Rose. She attended high school in Canada and, in 1937, married David Thomas Ridley, Sr. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. In 1957 they moved their family to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota where they owned and operated a resort motel. Helen later worked along with her husband Dave as a management team for Ramada Inn and LaQuinta Inn. She retired from LaQuinta Inn in 1980. Helen was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Temple, the Chapter of the Eastern Star in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the Chapter of the Eastern Star in Temple, and of the Bell Fine Arts Club. She was an accomplished artist through her poetry and paintings and collected Asian dolls and décor. Helen was the matriarch of the family; a beautiful soul who never met a stranger.

Mrs. Ridley was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and great-grandson James William Holmes.

She is survived by her sons, David Thomas Ridley, Jr. and wife Judie of Waco; Patrick John Ridley and wife Sandi of Belton; grandchildren Dawn Holmes and husband Chris of Waco; Patrick J. Ridley, II and wife Sara of Temple; David Thomas Ridley, III of Waco; and Mathew B. Ridley and wife Maxanne of Belton; great-grandchildren Elise Holmes, Ridley Holmes, Celia Holmes, Clara Holmes, Kaitlyn Ridley, Rebecca Ridley, Kenley Ridley, and Kellan Ridley.

Visitation