Ricky Riddle

Ricky Lynn Riddle, age 72, of Alto, NM passed away unexpectedly on April 9th, 2022. Rick grew up in small towns across Oklahoma. In his teenage years, his family (parents Sue and AC, and sister Celia) moved to Arizona where he attended Palo Verde High School in Tucson Arizona, playing both golf and football. With opportunities to play both at the University of Arizona, Rick chose to play golf throughout his university years. His natural talent and a deep love of golf led him to turn pro and play the PGA tour. After years of traveling and enjoying his favorite sport, he took a job with Club Corporation of America in the southern US. He later moved back to Arizona where he met Mary Jo Piedmont and became a father. After his son, Jasper Riddle, was born he decided he wanted to raise his family in the small mountain town where his family raced horses in: Ruidoso, NM.

Rick was a creative man, whose ideas were always ahead of the times, leading him down an entrepreneurial path where he could make his progressive ideas a reality. Rick loved people, keeping in close contact with friends from around the world and sharing humor at any chance he got. He also loved to share food with those he loved, pulling together inspiration from the southern cuisine he grew up on and early professional experience working in fine dining. Rick also loved wine and was so proud of the winemaker and entrepreneur his son, Jasper, had become. He often visited the wine production facility to enjoy a glass and groom the animals; as an animal lover he developed a great companionship with the mini-donkey, Beans, who enjoyed regular haircuts and lots of carrots from Rick. Up until his final days, he was at his heart a coach, and wanted to spend as much time as he could outdoors sharing his love of golf with anyone who wanted to learn. We will always think of him, smiling in the sunshine, making a subtle correction to the placement of a foot or to the momentum of the swing of the golf club.

Rick is preceded in death by his parents, Sue and AC Riddle, and his best friend the beagle, Baxter Riddle. He is survived by his pride and joy, Jasper, and his wife, Bailey, who will be bringing his first granddaughter, Florence, into the world this June. He also left behind his close nephew, Logan Henry, sister, Celia Riddle, his step-father, Bob Wood and numerous other friends and family members around the world. We will be celebrating Rick and his joyful journey on this earth on Sunday, April 24th at 11 am at Enchanted Vine Events Barn in Alto, NM. We invite all loved ones to join us in sharing memories, laughter and joyful remembrance of our forever golf coach, wine drinking companion and travel buddy: Rick Riddle.