Naomi (Meservy) Riding

Naomi Meservy Riding, 83, of Mapleton, Utah, passed away Saturday, May 8, 2021 from COVID pneumonia. She was born December 26, 1937 in Provo, Utah, to Edward and Lucille Meservy. She married John Cottam Riding on July 22, 1961 in the St. George LDS Temple.

Naomi grew up in Provo, Utah before heading to Dixie College in St. George. She was very involved at Dixie in academics, theater, student government, and more. She had a great love for Dixie, especially as it is where she began dating her future husband, John Riding, whom she met when her sister Norma married his brother Ron. After graduating from Dixie, she went on to further her education at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, earning a degree in Elementary Education. After she and John married, they moved to California and she taught school in Oakland before beginning her lifelong career as a homemaker. While raising her seven children, she lived most of her life in various places in California, including Berkeley, Vallejo, Sacramento, Paradise, Carmel, and Walnut Creek. The family also lived in New Jersey for four years. Naomi was always a very active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; she served in many positions within the Church, including accompanying her husband, John, on multiple missions after he retired and they relocated to Mapleton, Utah. They served in North Carolina as proselyting missionaries; in Ghana as mission president and companion; again in Ghana as the president and matron of the Accra, Ghana LDS Temple; and at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City, writing the history of the Church in West Africa.  Naomi was also very active in her community and children’s schools as a volunteer throughout her life. She made friends wherever she went, and kept in contact with those friends too. Naomi had a unique talent for noticing others, loving others, and helping them feel important. She taught and guided her family with great love and faith. She will be sorely missed.

Naomi is survived by her beloved husband, John, of Mapleton, Utah; her children: Gary (Melissa) Riding of Highland Village, Texas; Carolynn (Tim) Spencer of Flower Mound, Texas; Teresa Williams of Salt Lake City, Utah; Cynthia (Steve) Cannon of Medford, Oregon; Michael (Sarah) Riding of Highland, Utah; David (Becca) Riding of American Fork, Utah; and Nicole (Danny) Stoker of Sugar City, Idaho; 31 grandchildren; four grandchildren-in-law; and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Trudy Nickerson; her brother-in-law, Ron Riding; and her sisters-in-law Alice (Mike) Heaton, Ruth (Tom) Pooler, and Terese Riding. She was preceded in death by her sisters: Maurine Jacobson, Ardis Rowley, and Norma Riding; her brother, Keith Meservy; her sister-in-law, Arlene Meservy; and brothers-in-law Jess Jacobson, Revo Rowley, John Nickerson, and Paul Riding. She was also preceded in death by her son-in-law, Layne Williams.

A viewing for family and friends will be Friday, May 14, from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Wheeler Mapleton location at 82 West 400 North, Mapleton.  Funeral services will be held May 15, 2021 at 10:00 am in the LDS Chapel located at 825 Hawks Rest Drive, Mapleton, Utah.  We respectfully request that those coming to the viewing and/or the funeral wear masks.  Burial will be immediately following at Provo City Cemetery, located at 610 S. State Street, Provo, Utah.

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