Catharine Ruth Riggs

July 3, 1927 - April 9, 2018

Catharine Ruth (Carter) Riggs, 90, died on Monday, April 9, 2018 at Pratt Regional Medical Center. She was a person who realized death was inevitable but that during life it could be filled with the sharing of special memories and happiness. Catharine was a young strawberry blonde, active youngster and throughout her life loved the outdoors and all her pets starting while living with her parents, Hazel (Barnaby) and Robert Benjamin “Ben” Harrison Carter, on a farm outside of Howard. She was born on July 3, 1927 and had an older sister, Mary Hope Wiseman. Catharine graduated from Eastern High School, Washington D.C., in February 1945. She and her family moved to Washington to participate in the “war effort”. Even though she lived in Maryland, she felt Howard was her home. Catharine attended Emporia State Teachers College where she received her elementary education teaching certificate. Before her marriage, she taught 46 fifth graders her first year of teaching in Colby. In 1949, she married Harold Richard Riggs and had one daughter, Phyllis Catharine (Riggs) Farney. In 1961, they had John Harold Riggs as a newborn infant who joined their family through adoption. Catharine taught 23 years for nearby school districts when she and Harold settled in Olathe, where he practiced law and later became a judge for the District Court. Catharine is survived by her much loved family which include her children and their spouses, Phyllis (Mike) Farney of Pratt and John (Tomma Lickliter) Riggs of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Catharine has one grandson, Christopher John Farney of Overland Park and a second grandson, David Michael (Robyn Florshutz) Farney and their daughters Lyla and Molly Farney of Nampa, Idaho. Preceding her in death was her husband, Harold, who died while they were spending the winter in Texas in November 1983. Also deceased are her parents, Ben and Hazel Carter; and sister and brother in-law, Mary Hope and J. C. Wiseman of Howard. Catharine Riggs was a member of the Kansas Retired Teachers Associations, a 50 year member of Hope Lodge OES, Pratt Area Humane Society and The First Christian Church of Olathe. Graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Olathe. Memorials may be made to the Pratt Area Humane Society or The First Christian Church in Olathe.