Otis Ridgell

Otis Ridgell, 87, of Jefferson City, died Sunday, October 31, 2010, at St. Mary's Health Center. He was born on September 18, 1923, in Monticello, Ark., the son of the late James and Mamie Johnson Ridgell. He was united in marriage in 1946 in Kansas City, Mo., to Mary Elizabeth Clark, who preceded him in death in 1979. At an early age, Otis confessed his faith in God while attending service at Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in Monticello, Ark. He attended grammar school at Drew County Public School in Monticello, Ark. His formal education was obtained in Pine Bluff, Ark., at Corbin High School which was then located on the campus of Arkansas AM & N College now named University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Otis worked as a foreman for two construction companies in Kansas City, Mo. and retired from Colony Paints in Kansas City, Mo. in 1995. Otis was a faithful member of Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church in Kansas City, Mo. where he served for over 40 years. Upon relocating to Jefferson City over 10 years ago, he joined Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church. Otis was an avid sports fan especially for the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals. He was a devoted husband and father. He leaves to mourn his loss two daughters, Marilyn Banks (John Spencer III), Jefferson City, and Carolyn Brown (J. Jervey Brown), Jefferson City; three grandchildren, Marsha Banks-McCarther (Jeffrey McCarther), Justin Brown, and Jarrett Brown; three siblings, Clovern Lambert, Chicago, Ill., Ardell Hanley, Gary, Ind., and Roscoe Ridgell, Macon, Ga.; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by five sisters, Gertrude Bell, Eula Mae Wright, Ruth Wells, Ernestine Colbert, Verlyn Phelps; and a brother, Collins Plumma. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, November 6, 2010, at Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church with Rev. Cassandra Gould officiating. Burial will be in Hawthorn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 10-11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, 2413 Hyde Park Rd., Jefferson City, MO 65109; or to the Central MO Kidney Association, P.O. Box 1915, Columbia MO 65205. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Those wishing to email condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.