Johnnye Faye Riggs

Johnnye Faye Farley-Riggs, 88, of Fayetteville, Arkansas passed away Saturday, March 28, 2020 at Avenir Memory Care in Fayetteville.

Johnnye was born July 9, 1931 in Siloam Springs, Arkansas to Ollie Glenn Farley and Edna Miles Farley Gatherer. She attended school at Siloam Springs, Arkansas where she achieved the All-State Basketball award in 1948; she would go on to play four seasons of professional basketball for the All American Red Heads from 1948 through 1952. On June 29, 1952, she married Howard N. Riggs in Siloam Springs and shared many loving years and memories together. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education Summa Cum Laude at John Brown University in 1961 and then, she would attend University of Arkansas to receive her Master’s Degree in Education in 1968. She would go on to teach 6th grade education at Bates Elementary in Fayetteville from 1961 to 1981. She was of Baptist faith and loved her family.

She is survived by her husband, Howard N. Riggs of Fayetteville, AR; 3 children, Steven Wayne Riggs and wife, Leanna of Rogers, AR, Carol Ann Riggs of Fayetteville, AR, and Paul Nathan Riggs of Springdale, AR; 1 sister, Dr. Lily Ann Hanes of Golden Eagle, IL; 4 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

A private burial will be held at a later date in the Fayetteville National Cemetery.