Duane Earl Riggle
Joe Denoyer - September 14, 2021 10:58 pm
Duane Earl Riggle, 82, passed away on Friday, August 20, 2021, in
Houston, Texas, from complications related to COVID. Duane was born in
Liberal’s Epworth Hospital on April 9, 1939, to Earl Riggle and Bernice
Helsel (Brose). Duane’s dad Earl died when he was 10 years old, and he
was raised by his mother, Bernice Brose, and by his stepdad, Wade Brose.
Wade preceded him in death in 1964 and his mother, Bernice, died in
1972. Duane is survived by beloved son, Michael, of the home, and by
his brother Mike, of Tulsa. Duane was married to the love of his life,
Karen Riggle (Williamson), who preceded him in death in 1998.
Duane graduated from Liberal High School in 1957. He lettered in
football, basketball and track. Known by his closest friends as
“Skinny,” Duane loved to have fun with friends and family, especially
Faylene and Bill Pittman, Jim Holt, and Don Stiles, among many others.
Duane enlisted in the U. S. Navy serving four years before returning to
Liberal in 1964 where he worked at National Helium, and then for
Anadarko Productions in Ft. Worth and in Houston until his retirement in
1999.
Duane loved all types of sports, and he loved fishing. He loved to take
his son Michael and his friends to soccer practices, games and
tournaments. He loved the Dallas Cowboys. He was a lover of animals,
always having dogs and cats in their home his whole life. Duane loved
to talk about his Helsel family, his aunts, uncles, cousins, and
especially what he loved to refer to as the “original cousins,” Jack
Dykes, Don Cobb, and Sherry Hummer. Duane loved to tell stories and
had the sweetest laugh which always made you want to laugh with him.
In Duane’s later years he became a regular member of the Magnolia Cowboy
Church in Houston where he gave his heart and his life to Christ as his
Lord and Savior.
As he requested, Duane will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife,
Karen, in the Balko, Oklahoma, cemetery this upcoming Memorial Day
weekend.