Linda Lorraine Ridgeway

Linda was born on November 27, 1947 in Inglewood, California to Dudley Gail Loomis and E. Lorena (Weddle) Loomis. She was the middle child of an engineer father and stay at home mother. At the young age of 3, her family moved to Kansas to help out on her grandparent’s farm when her grandfather fell ill. After he passed, they stayed on the farm where it was her daily responsibility to tend to the chickens and gather eggs. Her father passed away unexpectedly when she was only 12 years old. Her mother was not able to manage the farm on her own so they sold the farm and moved into town so her mother could work. Linda had to grow up fast. After school, she was in charge of taking care of the house, making sure dinner was ready and helped raise her younger sister. Despite all of her responsibilities, she was able to be active in 4-H, competing in baking contests at the county fairs, and enjoyed playing baseball with her friends.

She graduated from Emporia High School in 1965 where she met the love of her life. In February 1969, she married Gary Ridgeway and took on the new role as ‘military wife.’ They were stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX and Scott Air Force Base in Illinois before returning to McConnell Air Force Base near Wichita, Kansas. This is where she took on another new role as ‘mother’ to her son, Michael. Gary retired from the Air Force and the family moved back to Emporia where their daughter, Cheri, was born.

In 1980, she earned her degree from Flint Hills Vocational College in Emporia, where her 30(+) year career as a Licensed Practical Nurse began. She worked in the emergency room at Newman Hospital prior to leaving Kansas.

In 1984, Linda and her family fulfilled their lifelong dream and moved to beautiful Colorado. She loved to camp and go fishing whenever possible. She was an avid Colorado Rockies fan and loved to take her grandchildren to Colorado Eagles hockey games.

She worked at Good Samaritan Village in Ft Collins and North Shore Health and Rehab in Loveland. After devoting her life to caring for others, she retired in 2014.

Linda was a TRUE CANCER WARRIOR – in spite of all that she was going through, she continued to find the strength to keep going, always with a smile on her face, never complaining. She always put others needs before her own and she continued to make sure her family was always taken care of despite her illness.

She is survived by her children: Michael Ridgeway of Milliken and Cheri (James) Clark of Fort Collins; grandchildren: Hailey and Connor; brother: Dudley (Jodie) Loomis of Arizona; sister: Sharman (Ed) Loomis-Duncan of Washington, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She will be sorely missed by her beloved family and chocolate lab, Koda.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, in 2013, and her parents.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at Resthaven Funeral Home in Fort Collins. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to The American Cancer Society in her honor.

Please visit www.resthavencolorado.com to share your remembrances of Linda.