Jacqueline Riggs, 85, a longtime resident of Liberty, Missouri, passed away on May 8, 2017. Jackie was born Jacqueline Lou Christensen in Axtell, Kansas, on Leap Year Day, February 29, 1932. She was the daughter of George and Ruth (Connet) Christensen, and sister of Stanley Christensen. She graduated from Axtell High School in 1950, and graduated from Kansas State University in 1954. Jackie married her K State college sweetheart, Ronald Riggs, in Axtell on August 8, 1954. Jackie and Ron were quite a team, and were married throughout their lifetimes for 61 years. Ron passed away in 2015.

Jackie was active in her community and her church, the First Presbyterian Church in Liberty. She worked as a teacher of children in many capacities throughout her life. Jackie was a great reader, loved the beauty of nature, and enjoyed following her favorite sports teams.

Jackie and Ron were proud of their children and their spouses and their families. Jackie loved her family, immediate and extended, including her many dear friends. She enjoyed nothing better than inviting guests into her lovely home, making all feel welcome, and sharing her unrivaled hospitality. Those that knew and loved Jackie were witness to her quiet and constant caring for others coupled with her steely resolve and her often humorous tell-it-like-it-is commentary.

Jackie leaves behind her brother Stanley Christensen and his wife Reatha; her daughter, Stacy Brandom, and her husband, David, of Larchmont, New York; her son, Bob, and his wife, Ann Reed, of Liberty; and her son, Joel, and his wife, Sally, of Lawrence, Kansas. Jackie also leaves her grandchildren Eric (Carlee), Bryan, and Jonathan Brandom, Megan (James) Berry, and Tom and Andy Riggs, and great-grandchildren Gregory and Henry Brandom. Later in her life, Jackie was delighted to welcome grandchildren Sarah (Gustavo Collantes) Reed and Erin (Chris) Standley into her family orbit, and their children Santiago and Luisa Collantes, and Penelope Standley. Had Jackie lived another 3 months, two more great-granddaughters would be reported!

There will be a service celebrating Jackie’s life on Wednesday, May 17th, at the First Presbyterian Church in Liberty Missouri. A visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 a.m., and the service will begin at 11:00 a.m., with a luncheon to follow. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, gifts in Jackie’s memory be sent to the First Presbyterian Church in Liberty, Missouri.