Lucille Margaret Gocio Rigsby

Lucille Margaret Gocio Rigsby died Sunday, March 15th, 2009, at the home of her son in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The daughter of Charles Louis Gocio and Hazel McCarty Gocio Estes, she was born December 12th, 1917 at the Starr Ranch of her grandfather, Benjamin Gocio, near Stillwell, Oklahoma. Her father�s French ancestors, who originally spelled their name Gocieaux, were early pioneers and landholders in Arkansas Post from ca. 1725. In 1924 the family purchased the Massey Hotel in Bentonville, Arkansas and moved there so that Lucille could attend public school. When she was 16, she was among a small group of young girls selected to represent the new radio station in Northwest Arkansas and traveled to New York City to participate in a live broadcast from Radio City Music Hall. She attended Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri, for two years and returned home to help run the family hotel after her grandfather's death. John Rigsby, a young agronomist with the Soil Conservation Service, came to Bentonville in 1938, where they met and were married in 1939. They resided in many small Arkansas towns before being transferred to Nashville for the first time in 1941. During the war they left Nashville, but returned in 1946. There they followed John's dream and opened the Nashville Dairy Company in 1948, which operated until 1954. John then returned to work with the Soil Conservation Service and Lucy commuted to Henderson College to complete her Education Degree. She taught in the Nashville Public School System for 25 years. She retired to care for John, who died in 1981. In her retirement, she was active in the Howard County Hospital Auxiliary, in the local chapter of P.E.O., and the Howard Country Retired Teachers Association. She traveled extensively, and played bridge with her friends and her favorite bridge partner, Bernie Kreul. She moved to Fayetteville in August, 2007. She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Barbara Frank of White Post, Virginia, her son, Charles Rigsby of Fayetteville, her granddaughter, Laura Newbern of Milledgeville, Georgia, a brother, Allen Gocio of Lancaster, California, a sister-in-law, Bettye Gocio of Bentonville and many nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews. Her youngest brother Charles Gocio predeceased her in 1999. The family would like to thank the caregivers who helped brighten Lucy's days and who extended to her heartfelt loving care: long time friend and neighbor Carolyn Ellis, the doctors and staff of Howard County Memorial Hospital, Dr. Joe King, Mary Turner, Joyce Tolliver, Penny Burnett, Terry Webb, Robin , Washington County Regional Hospice, Dr. David Clay, Dr. Malcolm Hayward, Wanda Thomas, Janet Poole, Roseanne Leverich, Tammy Alverado, Diane Toups, Kem Wilks, Genia Baumgardner, and Martha Stauffacher. Funeral Services will be Saturday, March 21st, at the First United Methodist Church, 1403 Sunset Avenue, Nashville, Arkansas. Family and friends are invited to gather for a reception at the church at 1:00 p.m. The service will follow at 2:00 p.m. with burial immediately afterward at Restland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. 119, Nashville, Arkansas 71852, or to your favorite charity. Well done your good and faithful servant. May the souls of the departed rest in peace. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Lucille Margaret Gocio Rigsby please visit our Sympathy Store.