Riki Linda McElroy

Riki Linda Sutton McElroy, 73, left this world suddenly last week.

She was born on August 1,1950 to Nell Jane Renshaw Sutton and Lewis E. Sutton. She leaves behind her husband Jack McElroy, brother Michael Lewis Sutton, nephews Brian Lewis and Christopher Michael Sutton, Chris's wife Amanda and their children Abbey, Andrew and Michael and cousins Valerie Steel and Jeffery Renshaw.

She attended Gragg and Jackson elementary schools then graduated from Bartlett High School in 1968. She had an idyllic childhood, playing outdoors all the time like she was one of the guys. But she knew she was a girl. She was a page to a Cotton Carnival Princess one year. She took all the dance classes that were available and, after placing high in the Mid-South Fair Talent contest with three other classmates, was on the national TV show, The Ted Mack Amateur Hour twice.

She attended Memphis State University where she was a majorette in the band and a member of the Gymnastics team and then coach. She got her master's at Alabama and coached their Gymnastics team. Then she coached at Emporia State in Kansas. She spent several years coaching and teaching in high schools. She next joined North Carolina State and taught yoga and aerobics and other physical education classes. They hated to lose her when she came home to help take care of her mother.

She wanted to teach again so joined the faculty of the University of Memphis over twenty years ago. She had just finished the spring semester last week and was making plans for the fall. She won the Teacher of the Year award in her department and always garnered the highest marks when students were asked to rate their professors at the end of each semester. She was also a beloved instructor at various community centers and The Church Health Center.

When Riki was 6 years old, her parents took her to Russwood Park to see Elvis. The screaming girls scared her. In the early 1970s she and her friend Jamie saw Elvis in Las Vegas. This time, she joined the screaming girls.

Riki probably had hundreds of cats and dogs over the years. But her first dog, Steve and her first cat, Blackie were her favorites. She inherited a love of gardening from her mother. There is an area in the back yard designated "Nell Jane's' Garden" and another called "Riki's Patch.

Most importantly, she found the love of her life in North Carolina. Next month, Jack and Riki would have celebrated thirty years of marriage. Her brother Mike had the best side kick anyone could have wanted for 73 years and will miss the special whistle they had to find each other when separated. Her nephews will miss her guidance, her playfulness, her joy and deviled eggs.

Riki was a various reader. Fiction and non-fiction alike. She prayed every day. She studied, though and talked about spiritual ideas daily. She wanted to be a better person, closer to God. She wanted to be ready to help others if the need arose. She belonged to the Third Church of Christ, Scientist.

We know she is in the arms of her mother and father and riding the Farris Wheel at sunset eating popcorn.

If anyone feels moved to make a donation in her name, some suggestions are the ASPCA, Church Health Center or. Veterans group of your choice.