Obituary of Mabel Corriher Riggsbee

Mabel Irene Corriher Riggsbee passed away on December 11, 2015 surrounded by her family. She was born in Rowan County, NC. Mabel graduated high school in China Grove, NC in 1936 and Catawba College in Salisbury, NC in 1940. She taught school in Salisbury for 4½ years before moving to Chapel Hill during WWII to work for the US Navy in the Pre-Flight Program located on the UNC campus. It was during this time that she met and married Ernest Lloyd Riggsbee of Carrboro in 1947. They were married for 66 years until his death in 2013. Mabel played piano and organ and enjoyed music, friends, beautiful songbirds, hummingbirds and their nests, owls, baby animals, and butterflies. She was a lover of nature and an avid reader until her last days. Mabel will be most remembered for her generous spirit, enthusiasm for life, nurturing instincts, and enduring devotion to her family. In addition to guiding her children and grandchildren, she acted as a second mother to many of her children's friends. Mabel opened her heart and her home to all, and the family home was always filled with good times, laughter, and joy. She is survived by her four children, Ned (Jan) Riggsbee and son Jacob; Becky Riggsbee; Tina (Buzz) Floyd and children Hannah, Glenn, and Trent; and Linda (Scott) Jens and children Erik and Noah, all of Carrboro. Mabel is also survived by her sister Polly McLaughlin of Raleigh and brother Joe Corriher of China Grove. Five siblings pre-deceased her. The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Rebecca Tobin and her nurse, Lucinda. Not only did they manage Mabel's care beautifully, they became very dear to her over the years. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to UNC Hospice, 480 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312.UNC Funeral arrangements are under the care of Walker's Funeral Service & Cremation of Chapel Hill, NC.