Lynn Riddle

Lillian Lois Ferrell, who later changed her name to Lynn Riddle, passed away peacefully on the evening of September 9th, 2024, after a brief stay in a wonderful hospice facility in Dallas, Texas. She was 89 years old. Her daughter and son-in-law were by her side when she took her last breath. She had been on the decline for many years, with dementia. Her daughter moved her from Hot Springs, Arkansas to Dallas, Texas on Mother’s Day weekend in 2018 to take care of her in her final years.

Lynn was born on August 8, 1935. She was born in the woods, 5 miles outside of Avinger, Texas to hardworking farmers. The country road she lived on didn’t have a name or sign but only Ferrell’s lived on it. Lake O’ the Pines, formerly known as "Ferrell's Bridge Reservoir", was created by the construction of the Ferrell’s Bridge Dam on the Big Cypress Bayou approximately 81 miles upstream from the bayou's confluence with the Red River.

Lynn went to Avinger, Texas public schools from 1st through 12th and made good grades. In high school, she was class President for three out of four years. She played snare drum for the marching band in high school because her brother Homer played bass drum. She said it was the best thing in the world because her older brother was her hero, and she could march right in line playing drums next to him.

She graduated high school in 1953 and then went to Paris, Texas Junior College where she had a full scholarship in music and received an Associate’s Degree. She played the flute, French horn and drums. She moved to Denton, Texas to attend North Texas State University, working towards a Psychology degree. 

She worked for Delta Airlines where she met Don Riddle and they were married on January 11, 1968, in Dallas, TX. They had one daughter, Robin Riddle Weinstein. She had various jobs throughout the years and met Elvis Presley in the early 1950’s when she worked the drive thru window at Dairy Queen. She worked for Federal Express, Clinique and was the Office Manager for a Dermatologist and later a Physical Therapist. She owned her own company for many years doing medical transcription.

Lynn had a fun and mischievous spirit, and she loved to laugh. She was incredibly generous to her friends, family and especially with her only child, Robin. She loved to travel the world when she was younger and collected charms from every country/city she visited, to add to her charm bracelets. Every spring break, she would take her daughter to some exotic beach destination. She made every holiday great, whether it was Christmas, Easter or Valentine’s Day. She spoiled her daughter a lot. She was intelligent and loved to read. She was good at sewing and made a lot of her own clothes when she was younger. She was a lover of music and especially loved to sing. She had a beautiful voice. She was in an adult choir in Dallas for several years and was always singing in the kitchen when she was cooking. She adored going to the Dallas Summer Musicals at Fair Park and listening to Southern Gospel. She loved the color hot pink, and she absolutely loved fried chicken! She will be terribly missed.

Lynn was preceded in death by her husband Donald Riddle, parents Sam and Bula Ferrell, brothers Homer Ferrell and Bennie Ferrell and sister Hazel Alsip. She is survived by her daughter Robin Riddle Weinstein, her son-in-law Michael Weinstein, her “adopted son” Charles Keys, her "adopted daughter" Leesa Watkins, and numerous nieces and nephews whom she adored, from the Ferrell, Hecke, Conly, Queen, Davis and Alsip families and her grand-dog, Lil’ Dude.

Services will be held on Saturday, September 21at 11:00am at Smith’s Family Funeral Home in Hot Springs, Arkansas with Pastor Chris Conly officiating. https://www.smithfamilycares.com/hot-springs

Pallbearers will be Jay Conly, Todd Conly, Randy Hall, Robbie Hecke, Charles Keys and Paul Harrison.

Donations can be made in Lynn Riddle’s name to Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Dallas, Texas in lieu of flowers, if you choose. https://www.forefrontliving.org/giving-opportunities/