Marie Coppedge Riggan

MARIE COPPEDGE RIGGAN

June 3, 1927 – April 18, 2018

Louisburg, NC – Earis Marie Coppedge Riggan of Louisburg passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 90 on the morning of Wednesday, April 18th at Louisburg Nursing Center.

Marie was born in Franklin County, the daughter of Oliver Jackson Coppedge and Effie Harris Dean of the Cedar Rock Community.  At the tender age of 6, her maternal grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Jackson Dean, took in and cared for her and her sister, Sophie Jean, after both of their parents died within a few short months. 

She left home to attend Kings Business College in Raleigh and worked at the Veterans Administration there.  While attending school, she met William H. Riggan, Jr., a handsome young State College engineering student from Warren County.  They married on June 1, 1946.

Marie and her husband owned and operated the Western Auto Associate Store in Louisburg. She acted as the North Carolina DMV license plate agent for Franklin County for several decades and finally retired from the staff of Louisburg College after many years of service.  She was known for the delicious meals she prepared for her family and friends throughout her life.  She dearly loved her hobby of working outside and enjoyed her garden and many flowers.  She was also active with the Franklin County Arts Council, Louisburg College Concert Series and the National Whistlers Convention.  She was a member of Louisburg Baptist Church.

In addition to her mother and father, she was also predeceased by brothers William, Wilbur, Lynwood, Mildren, Harold and John; sisters Annie Laurie and Sophie Jean; her former husband, William H. Riggan, Jr. and their sons Robert Jackson Riggan and Jerry Lee Riggan.

She is survived by a son, William H. Riggan, III and wife Vickie of Louisburg; daughters, Patricia Dean Riggan of Santa Fe, NM and Mary Elizabeth Riggan Lovin and husband Mike of Bunn.

She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Benjamin W. Riggan (Emily) of Virginia Beach, VA; Robyn Allyn Hedges (Stuart) of Jonesborough, TN; Preston Dean Miller (Jodi) of Warm Springs, GA; Julie Marie Sato McLaughlin (Tim) and Matthew Todd Sato of Santa Fe, NM; Stephen Lee Sato (Shannon) of Colorado Springs, CO; Jennifer Marie Lovin and Melanie Annette Lovin of Bunn; Davin Charles Riggan (Lisa) of Garner; Jerry Lee Riggan, Jr. of Statesville and Daniel Jackson Riggan (Kelly) of Roxboro.  She is also survived by 10 great grandchildren: Carter and Walker Riggan; Lucy Marie and Evelyn Hedges; Anjamora, Tadhg and Fiadh Sato- McLaughlin; Brianna, Alex and Jackson Riggan.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to everyone for the calls, thoughts, cards, kind words and prayers.  We are especially grateful to Dr. Reggie Rushing, Louisburg Baptist Church; Dr. Stephen S. Marsh, MD of Transitions LifeCare; Dr. Lavinia T. Reyes, MD; and all of Marie’s caregivers at Louisburg Nursing and Rehab.  A private service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Louisburg Baptist Church, P. O. Box 730, Louisburg, NC 27549.

Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg, NC.

www.stricklandfuneralhome.net

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