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Fern Elizabeth Ridings, a resident of Grand Junction, Colorado, and formerly of Portales, NM and Socorro, NM, passed away on Sunday, August 1, 1999. She was born September 11, 1906 in Aurora, Missouri, the oldest of five children born to Earl Jefferson Stratton and Laura Elizabeth Watson. Fern was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Paul Perry Ridings. She is survived by one brother, Porter Andrew Stratton and wife, Mary of Edenburg, TX; two daughters, Maebeth Guyton and husband, Robert of Grand Junction, CO and Pauline Moore and husband, Carl Moore Jr. of Socorro; six grandchildren, Michelle Guyton, Camille Jestrovich and husband, Mateja, Kevin Guyton, Paul Moore and wife, Brenda, Karla Moore, and Michael Moore and wife, Susanna; and 14 great-grandchildren, Casey, Angelica, and D.J. Jestrovich, McKenzie and Chas Guyton, Katrina and Jacqueline Smith, Jaime, Katelyn and Joshua Moore, and Daniel, Jonathan, Sarah and Matthew Moore. Fern's family homesteaded in 1909 to the Richland area of Eastern New Mexico. Her father was a miner and traveled throughout the west finding jobs wherever he could, while Fern's mother taught in a one-room school house, as well as managing a farm and rearing the family. Fern was responsible for taking care of the little ones, and many farm chores, including going for the cows. Her younger siblings always had so much praise for her. Fern and Paul moved from Portales to Socorro in 1957. She loved flowers and spent many happy hours in her enchanting garden. She served all offices of Socorro Garden Club. She also served on the District IV level of garden clubs. She served four years as Judges State Chairman and was a National Accredited Flower Show Judge with Life Standing. She was also a member of Chapter M PEO in Socorro, serving all offices and demitted to Chapter GR in Grand Junction. Fern was loved by everyone who knew her, especially the children who visited her garden, and she was delighted when classes came by for a tour of her yard, and always had time to stop what she was doing to have a soda and conversation with them. They always went home with an arm load of flowers. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations can be made to Fern's favorite organization, New Mexico Boys Ranch, Belen, NM 87002.
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