Michael Wayne Ritchie

Services for Michael Wayne Ritchie, 61, of Monterey, will be Monday March 30, at 11 am, at Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday. The family will receive friends Monday from 9 am until 11 am. Services will be officiated by Rev. Tony Ganey. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery, Natchez, under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home. We thank God for his life. Mike was born December 16, 1953 in Natchez, Mississippi to the late Bobby Glynn Ritchie and Mrs. Peggy Ritchie Smith, of Vidalia, and passed away March 28, 2015. After graduating from Vidalia High School ’71, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After his service to his country, he attended University of Southern Mississippi College, Hattiesburg, Mississippi where he earned his Master’s degree plus 30 in Education and Adult Supervision. He taught in the Concordia Parish School System for 31 years at Ferriday Upper Elementary School, Monterey High School and most recently as GED teacher/facilitator for the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility. In 2006, he was named LAPCAE Adult Education Teacher of the year for the State of Louisiana. Living in Concordia Parish his entire life, he was an avid outdoorsman. He loved tending to his yard, fishing, hunting, and cooking for family and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Bobby Glynn Ritchie; his late wife, Delores Hollis Ritchie; maternal grandparents, Ettis Pearl Nettles; and Walter E. Nettles, Brookhaven, paternal grandparents, Archie V. and Stella Ritchie of Ridgecrest, La. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Johns Ritchie of Monterey, his mother, Peggy Ritchie Smith and her husband Marion of Monterey, one daughter, Jeanne Ritchie Weeks of Natchez, one son, Byron Ritchie of New Roads, La, brothers, Steve Ritchie of Washington, MS, Tony Ritchie and wife Beth, and nephew Nolan of Frisco, TX. Stepdaughter, Gina Evans Lucas of Wilmington, NC, sister-in-law, Gloria Jeffers and husband Dwight of Gaston , SC., sister-in-law, Jamie Egan and husband Gerry of Raleigh, NC, mother in law Dorothy Hutto of Gaston, SC, five grandchildren, Shelby Ritchie and Haylie Ritchie of Houston, TX. Jordan Ritchie, New Roads, LA, Jessica Russell of Monterey, and Evan Lucas of Wilmington, NC. Pallbearers are Nolan Ritchie, Marion Smith, Rick Carter, Phil Jernigan, Dave Yates, Sonny Lees. The family wishes to thank the staff of Camellia Hospice Penny Crain, Teresa Vangilder, Angie Harris, Kim Adams and Anna Laura Orr Donations in lieu of flowers should be made to Camellia Hospice or American Cancer Society.

Michael Wayne Ritchie

December 16, 1953 - March 28, 2015