Thomas Neil Riddle, 87, life-long Montgomery City resident, passed away peacefully at his home, Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019. The family greeted friends and family members during visitation at the First United Methodist-Presbyterian Church on Monday, December 9th from Noon until 2:00 pm.   The Funeral Service "A Celebration of Life", was held at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist-Presbyterian Church with Reverend Ed Hankinson officiating.  A Burial Service followed at the Montgomery City Cemetery.

Thomas Neil Riddle was born on April 16, 1932 in Olney, Missouri to William H. and Mae Riddle.  Tom grew up in Bellflower and graduated from Bellflower High School.  He went to work at Wellsville Fire Brick in 1951 and married Lora Dene Ellis on her 20th birthday, June 3rd, 1951.

Also on June 3rd, this time in 1980, Tom and Lora Dene purchased the Montgomery County Golf Club from Ott and Maxine Ingwersen.  Tom's vision was to turn the tiny sand-greens course into one the community could truly be proud of and that would be enjoyed by residents and future generations for years to come.  They expanded the course, built grass greens and a beautiful lake, and then operated the golf course every day for 30 years.

Tom retired from Wellsville Fire Brick as Head of Maintenance in 1997 after working there for 46 years, and then retired for good (gladly!) when they sold the golf course in 2010.  Later that same year, Tom was named the Montgomery City Area Chamber of Commerce "Person of the Year" for 2010.  Tom and Lora Dene had celebrated 64 wonderful years of marriage together when Lora Dene passed away in 2015.

Tom dearly loved Montgomery City and his friends and neighbors there.  Over the years, Tom played a major role in the excavation and building of the baseball and football complex at the High School.  He spent many years at Thanksgiving participating in Montgomery City's "A Hometown Christmas" festival by giving children rides and delivering Santa Claus to town in a wagon pulled by family mules.  Those mules, Kate and Jack, are now a permanent part of the Montgomery City landscape in a prominent downtown mural.  At his "Person of the Year" ceremony, Tom was quoted as saying that living in this community for nearly 60 years taught him the importance of a community working together and he was pleased to have been a part of it.

Tom is survived by his children, Roxanne (Robin) Loyed of Las Vegas, Nevada and Randy Riddle of Montgomery City, Missouri; daughter-in-law, Jeanie Riddle of Holts Summit, Missouri; his grandchildren, Sydney Loyed of Austin, Texas, Randee Rae (Luke) Phelps of Kirksville, Missouri, Thomas Aaron (Dana) Riddle of Prosper, Texas; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Lucas and Jonathan Phelps of Kirksville, Missouri and Jackson Riddle of Prosper, Texas; his sister, Betty River and husband, Bob, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William H. and Mae Riddle, brothers, William Henry and Johnson "Jack" Riddle, and his wife, Lora Dene Ellis Riddle.

In lieu of flowers, m emorial donations may be give to the First United Methodist-Presbyterian Church or to the Montgomery County Senior Center, c/o Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, Montgomery City, MO   63361.