Alycen Ridgway Yoder

Alycen Maxwell Ridgway Yoder was born on October 10, 1937 and passed away on January 29, 2025 at the age of 87 years, three months, and 19 days. Her parents were Evelyn Florence Baum and Marshall Rhodes Maxwell and her younger sisters were Ruth Ann and Lucille Idella.
She attended Alva High School, graduating as Valedictorian in 1956. She then attended Northwestern State College, earning a Bachelor of Education degree in 1959. She received her Master's Degree with an emphasis in English in 2003.
She married Max Lee Ridgway on February 8, 1957 and to this union three children were born: Max Alan, Marsha Lynn, and Michael Curtis. Max and Alycen enjoyed 40 years of marriage until his unexpected death in 1997. Alycen then returned to college to work on her Masters degree and it was during this time she renewed her acquaintance with a former high school classmate, Lawrence Yoder of Shattuck. They were married on December 24, 2002 and enjoyed seven years together until his death in 2009.
She taught piano lessons from her home for most of her adult life and served for many years as organist for the First United Methodist Church in Alva. She was also active in several church and community clubs including United Methodist Women (UMW), Hannah Circle, Chapter C of the P.E.O., Meals on Wheels, the Walkie-Talkies, Peace by Piece Quilting Guild, and the Nescatunga Arts Festival board. In 2018 she was honored to be chosen as a Distinguished Goldbug by the Alva Goldbug Education Foundation.
She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Marshall and Florence Maxwell, her husband Max Lee Ridgway and second husband, Lawrence Yoder, and by her sister, Ruth Ann Gatz. She is survived by her sister, Lucille Rhodes of Alva, her children and their spouses, Max and April Ridgway of Alva, Marsha and Glen McMillin of Kansas City, Mike and Brenda Ridgway of Stillwater, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Donations in her memory can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Alva.