Marjorie Rider

Marjorie N. Rider, age 82, of Fort Collins, died March 25, 2010 at her home in Fort Collins. A celebration of life and Catholic Mass will be held on Tuesday, March 30 at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 5450 S. Lemay Ave. Fort Collins beginning at 10:30 am. Marge, or Mardie, as she was affectionately known, was born January 21, 1928 on a farm near Longmont, CO to William and Mabel Neighbors. After graduating from Longmont High School she attended the University of Colorado and then taught school at Niwot for two years. In 1948 she met and fell in love with Charles (Chuck) Rider, a relationship that was to last for more than 61 years. They loved to dance from the very beginning. They were married in 1948 and lived in Boulder until 1959. Three of Marge's four children (Nancy, Mike and Craig) were born during this time in Boulder. She and Chuck moved to Colorado Springs in 1959 and then to Lakewood in 1963 during where their youngest daughter (Sarah) was born. In 1968 they returned to Colorado Springs where they lived until 2003 when they moved to Fort Collins to be near their ever growing extended family. Marge was a long time member of Holy Trinity Church in Colorado Springs and joined the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on her move to Fort Collins. She was an accomplished pianist and played piano for various churches throughout her life. Marge was a homemaker and exceptional seamstress. She welcomed friends and neighbors to her home, not as invited guests but as family. Their home has always been a welcoming place and safe refuge for not only family members but friends of family members. She always had gum drops available for friends and family. Marge and Chuck invited an exchange student from Colombia to live with them in 1975. Tachi Gomez graduated from high school in Colorado Springs and became an important part of the family. Marge and Chuck also enjoyed two trips to visit Tachi and her family in Bogota. Marge truly enjoyed travelling. She and Chuck were able to tour the world visiting many international cities including Rome, Prague, Singapore, London, Mexico City, Athens, Cairo, New Dehli, Sydney and Tauranga. She also loved cruises and enjoyed 13 such voyages with more than 175 nights on board ship. Sports were important to Marge. She loved watching her family compete in athletics and rarely missed any of her children's , or grandchildren's sporting endeavors if she were anywhere near event. She watched her children compete in football, wrestling, gymnastics, dance and track and field during high school. She especially enjoyed watching her son Craig play football for the University of Texas during which time she became a lifelong, diehard Longhorn fan. In recent years she expanded her sports watching activities as she watched her grandchildren compete in hockey, lacrosse, soccer, cheerleading and wrestling. She cheered for her sons who competed in the state wrestling and football championships and playoffs and later for grandsons who also competed in the state wrestling tournament. Marge and Chuck celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2008 with a family cruise to the Caribbean. Thirty members of the family enjoyed nearly two weeks at sea. As recently as December 2009 Marge enjoyed another family cruise again to the Caribbean with nearly 40 family members participating. She enjoyed playing bridge having participated in three bridge groups after her move to Fort Collins. They played monthly until just recently when ill health forced Marge to the sidelines. A matriarch in the truest sense of the word, Marge will be missed by her immediate family, her many friends and those to she came in contact with throughout her life. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and will be missed not only by her immediate family but also by the multitude of people who were part of her extended family. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Chuck, daughters Nancy (Mick) Daniel of Fort Collins, Sarah (Jim) Stewart of Fort Collins, Mike (Diane) Rider of Littleton, and Craig (Christy) Rider of Billings, MT. In addition she is survived by 15 grandchildren, Matt Daniel (Kerry), Brad Daniel (Sarah), Chris Daniel (Alison), Brett (B.J.) James, Meghan Daniel, Nicholas Rider (Vanessa), Elizabeth Rider, Sara Rider, Katie Rider, David Rider (Elizabeth), Anne Elise Rider, Michael Rider, Jenna Stewart, Alexander James (A.J.) Stewart, Tanner Stewart; and six great grandchildren, John Daniel, Gracie Daniel, Ava Daniel, Jacob Daniel, Lily Daniel, Charlie Mike Rider. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Mabel Neighbors, brothers, Donald, Doy and Vance and grandson Davis Rider Stewart. We'll miss you Cotton Top! Memorial contributions can be made to Pathways Hospice in memory of Marjorie Rider, 305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525.