Anna Ridge

Our Mom, Anna Lois (Nichols) Ridge, “graduated” and is with her Lord and Savior, Jesus, as of January 17, 2021. She remained at home with family and comfortable till her last breath. As she requested, we will place a graduation certificate in her hands and give her a butterfly. For she said, “I am so thankful that Jesus is my righteousness. This worm will be a butterfly. When I graduate, place a diploma in my hands and give me a butterfly.”

She was born July 27, 1927 to Joseph Edward Nichols and Anna Christa (Dunn) Nichols in Cloverport, Kentucky. She is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years John Samuel Ridge, by her daughter Janette Fay (Ridge) Langston and by her siblings: Catherine Edna (Nichols) Montgomery, Carl Edward Nichols, and Uldine Verlie (Nichols) Burns. They each make Heaven more dear.

At the age of three years old, she and her family moved from Cloverport to Louisville, KY where she grew up, attended school, took singing lessons, sang in the church choir and married her sweetheart shortly after WWII ended. Mom and Dad had their first three children in Louisville and the fourth after moving to Kansas City, MO in 1957. We attended and each became members of Gashland Baptist Church. Mom was baptized there on April 17, 1960. She taught Sunday School, helped in GAs, took us to church 3-4 times a week. The family of six also made many memories of camping, fishing, hunting, ice skating, badminton, croquet, ping pong, the Ozarks, Disneyland, Yellowstone….

Mom taught herself how to play the piano, the organ and ukulele. Music was important to her. She gave more than 10 ukuleles to her children and grandchildren. We often heard her say, “Dance in the halls.” She learned sign language to help teach children. She volunteered to help others learn to read. She was a kind and helpful neighbor.

Mom was the center of our home: the chef extraordinaire, homemaker, planner, organizer, caregiver and positive influencer. If we needed anything, mom could sew it, make it or put it together! She as crafty and talented. We had many wonderful family dinners, birthday and anniversary celebrations! Candy-making was a Christmas tradition. Her house would be full of family, making her prize-winning peanut brittle recipe and chocolate-covered peanut butter balls. Her door was always open.

Mom was always thankful for what she had. She never needed or wanted much of anything. She never really asked for anything. We heard her say many times, “Don’t worry about me, I’m doing fine!” We heard her say many times, “I’m so spoiled!” She loved the attention and care she received from her family and friends!

Her legacy is the evidence and seeds of her faith, sown into us through the years: kindness, patience, love, church attendance, the gospel and Bible verses she taught. Mom had a ministry of making gospel and salvation bracelets for others. She made thousands. Her bracelets were included in Samaritans Purse Christmas boxes, given to children at church during Sunday School, VBS and to children at school, sent with missionaries to Haiti and South Africa. She gave them to people she met anywhere, explaining the meaning: the doctor, dentist, store clerk, friends or strangers.

She precedes her daughter Lynn McRill (Tom), her son Rick Ridge (May) and her son Joel Ridge, 14 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren.

We love you! Until we meet again!

In lieu of flowers, please donate to North Kansas City Hospice or Gashland Baptist Church in her memory.