On April 16, 2010, my beloved and cherished wife of 37 years, Gaby Riddle, died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by friends and family. My wife was born Gabrielle K. Hurler in Stuttgart, Germany on March 10, 1951. Before moving to the United States in 1965, she and her family lived in Toronto, Canada. Gaby graduated from concord High School in Concord, CA, in 1969. She and I met at First Baptist Church in 1970 while working with the Youth group and married on June 2, 1973. In 1989 my wife and I moved to Flagstaff, where Gaby worked full-time as an instructional aide for Flagstaff Unified School District while completing a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education in 1999. She graduated with highest honors and was a member of the Gold Key Honor Society. After teaching for three years on the Navajo Reservation in Pinon she spent three years as a Special Education Instructor at Coconino High School. Gaby was a published poet, and she and I loved concerts, musical performances, traveling, and our two Cocker Spaniels Molly and Margeaux, who miss her daily.
She joins her parents Gertrud and Matthew Hurler in the arms of our Lord.
Gaby leaves behind her loving husband Doug of Flagstaff, AZ, sisters Lorraine (Rick) Renno of Red Bluff, CA and Bernice (Joe) Hurler-Favels of Cottonwood, CA, her brother-in-law Gary Riddle and his wife Debbie of Vacaville, CA, her niece, Christina Riddle, and nephews Nathan Riddle, and Jason and Matthew Davis.
Gaby was my one and only and the love of my life. My hope and prayer is that the light she brought to my life continues to shine for the educators, musicians, and children whose many lives she touched. May she rest peacefully now.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of Gaby’s life will be held on June 2, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the Main auditorium at Coconino High School. A memorial Scholarship Fund has been established at Northern Arizona University. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gabrielle K. Riddle Memorial Scholarship Fund, #5240 c/o NAU Foundation, PO Box 4094, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4094
