Friends and family have shared their relationship to show their support.

How do you know Clifford Riggs?

Family Friend Work Other

We are sorry for your loss.

Help others honor Clifford's memory.

Copy

Coping with Grief

We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.

Official Obituary of

Clifford Riggs

July 18, 1939 ~ January 27, 2018 (age 78) 78 Years Old

Clifford Riggs Obituary

Clifford A. Riggs, Jr, 78, recently of Pella, IA, passed away Saturday January 27, 2018.  He was surrounded by family in Pella, IA.  Previously of Grantville, PA where he lived with his wife from 1974 until retirement in 2010.   He was born on July 18, 1939 in Gunnison, CO, the son of the late Clifford A. and Thelma S. (Millhollin) Riggs Sr. Cliff retired from his lifelong passion of working with horses. Cliff was a jockey in his youth, but was “too big” to ride.   His gift with animals extended to training Thoroughbred race horses, as well as breaking horses to ride and breeding for more than 50 years. In retirement he and his wife split their time between Pella, IA and Ocala, FL.  He grew up in Canon City, CO, where he and wife Sandy met and married in May 1959.
Cliff is survived by his wife of 58 years Sandra L (Hemphill) Riggs; children, sons Lyle A. Riggs with his wife Vicki of Pella IA, Lyndell A Riggs with his wife Maribeth of Grantville, PA.  Daughter Shannon Smith with her husband David of Harrisburg, PA.; brother Clem with his wife Charlotte of CO.   He was a grandfather to nine grandchildren: Nick Oviedo, Dannielle, Chelsea and Lindy Riggs, Savannah and Breanna Smith, Mindy, Mandy and Lyle Riggs, Jr as well as 15 greatgrandchildren.
Cliff and Sandy traveled extensively throughout their marriage, living in CO, AZ, NM, NC, WV, PA, IA and FL.  Most of these travels involved opportunities for the the horses.  More recently they traveled with friends and family.  They loved being in Ocala, FL, with their dear family friends Wayne Rice and Arianne Cox.  He appreciated gardening and playing with his great grandchildren and has also met a lot of great friends through his years of travel to Iowa. He loved working outside and tinkering with many projects like fixing and rebuilding not only mowers but power wheels and bikes. He made that his full time job.
A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in his name to The Comfort House of Pella.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.