- Billie Ridings (henceforth referred to as Grammy), of Georgetown, Indiana, went to be with her savior on December 26, 2022. She was born in a small house in Dryden, Virginia an hour before her twin, Bobbie, arrived.
Grammy was a gentle hair-brusher, a pumpkin bread baker, a child whisperer, a snake despiser, a Diet Coke drinker, a hummingbird watcher, an avid phone talker, a bible reader who prayed for her family daily, and a loving mother and grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved in that way that we all look for: She knew us and saw us for what we are but she loved us and told us that we were still worthy.
Grammy was a light. You could not go to Kroger without running into 5 people she knew and chances were she had pictures of their children from every grade of school in her drawer upstairs. She cared that your child was running a fever and she would wait for you to call her and tell her it was just strep and you were on your way to get the antibiotic now but, wow, he weighs 63 pounds now, can you believe that (she couldn’t, just like you couldn’t, and together you swear 5 minutes ago he was a baby). She called you to let you know she was dropping off pumpkin bread, charioted by one of her children. She had just baked it this morning and she knew how much you’d want some. By the way, she was bringing the kids Happy Meals, too, and an Oreo McFlurry for each. But, wait now, don’t think she was a pushover. She was fierce and sassy in a way we could not always predict. She once got so mad she poured out an entire gallon of Kool-Aid while looking someone dead in the eye. She would use terms that were both inappropriate for the reader and also a bit confusing in their combination. And sometimes she would get so mad she would cry. Even in that she taught us, too, to sit with someone while they cry without offering answers or remedies but just a hand on the back and a reassurance that we aren’t alone.
Grammy was inimitable. In her memory, wait for the dogwoods to bloom. Listen to a child talk about Minecraft. Play “Mr. Blue Sky” and clap slightly off beat. Eat a McDonald’s cheeseburger and learn the name and story of the person who handed it to you through the drive thru window. Watch an old musical. Read an Agatha Christie novel. Offer understanding. Make the world a more loving and beautiful place.
Grammy is survived by her 3 children, April (Doug) Elmore, Steven (Kim) Ridings, and Mark (Amanda) Ridings: her 10 grandchildren, Samantha (Tony) Condra, Alicia (Matt) Young, Arielle (Noah) Ivey, Megan Elmore, Taylor (Brandon) Perez, Ian Elmore, Ethan Ridings, Seth Ridings, Claire Elmore, and Ziva Ridings; and 10 great-grandchildren, and every single person who she accepted as another grandchild along the way; her twin sister, Bobbie Winters, and her older sister, Carol (Carmine) Artone.
She was preceded in death by her father, Estle Huff; her mother, Inez Huff; and her sister, Margaret Doss.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org
A burial will follow the service in Kraft-Graceland Cemetery.
She will see you later, Alligator.
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1942 - 2022 (80 years)
