James Michael Ridley, 64, of Baroda, MI., formerly of LaMoille, Il. died August 23rd in KSB Hospital, Dixon, Il. Funeral Services will be held Friday, August 29th at 11:00a.m., in the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota, Il. with the Rev. Jack Nordgren officiating. Burial will be in Greenfield Cemetery, LaMoille, Il. with military honors by Mendota VFW Post 4079. Visitation will be Thursday, August 28th from 4-7p.m., in the Merritt Funeral Home.
James was born June 15, 1950 in Spring Valley, Il. to James William and Elsie Juanita (Driskell) Ridley. He married Wilma Jensen June 14, 2013.
He is survived by his wife Wilma of Baroda, MI.; his daughter Dawn (Terry) O'Neal of Dixon; his son James Preston Ridley of Plano, TX.; three sisters Jessie (Ron) Ross of Princeton, Il., Judy Trahen of Gray, LA., Jeannie (Ralph) Echelbarger of Mendota, Il.; two brothers John Ridley of Spring Valley, Il., Jody (Robin) Ridley of Seatonville, Il. and Portage, WI.; three grandchildren Michael Curtis O'Neal, James Brayden Ridley, and Bryce Preston Ridley.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
James graduated LaMoille High School. He owned and operated Ridley Tiling and Excavating for 10 years and most currently worked for Fairmount Santrol in Bridgeman, MI. as a corporate logistics safety coordinator. He served in the United States Army. He was a volunteer fireman for LaMoille Fire Department and for Triumph Fire Department where he had served as Fire Chief. He was past president of Mendota Tri-County Fair and Mendota Golf Club. He was a member of Mendota Elks Club and American Legion in Baroda, MI.
Memorials may be directed to St. Jude's Children's Hospitals.