| Notes |
- General Notes: Info from Rachel Johnson Rigby.
The following note is contributed by daughter Ruth:
Kyle was born in the "Garden Spot in the World", Bratt, Florida. He aspired to be a dentist. He attended Springhill College at the time of the Great Depression, but his parents' struggle on the family farm during this time, called him back home. When Kyle met Rachel Johnson, he was living in Pensacola, where he had worked briefly at Naval Air Station and then at the Hotel San Carlos as manager and auditor.
He and Rachel shared in directing Christian work at their church for many years. Even after retirement from the hotel business, Kyle continued to work as a funeral attendant. He consoled many families and helped them through their sad moments with his encouragement. When Kyle married Rachel, he took her to Miami Beach and Mount Dora, Florida for their honeymoon. Rachel remembers that he had walked the beach in Miami before driving to Mount Dora, and Kyle walked barefoot with sand between his toes into the hotel to check them in. This embarrassed Rachel, but this was Kyle. He enjoyed every moment of life. He had fun in everything he did and this earned him a world of friends. Kyle boasted to his friends once that if he ever won the lottery, he would make sure he split his earnings with them. He did win the lottery once --but only a few dollars. This did not stop him from going to the bank for a stack of crisp, new one-dollar bills that he gave away to friends and perfect strangers. He told them his story that he had won the lottery and he was sharing his wealth. Of course he gave away much more than he had won.
Another generous moment occurred when a woman in Gayfer's department store complimented him for his handsome tie. She wanted to know where to get one just like it. Well, Kyle took off is new tie and gave it to her. Kyle's entire life was marked by similar acts of generosity and kindness he bestowed on his family, friends, neighbors, and perfect strangers.
Kyle was the life of the party, and once at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, he was selected to be an audience participant in one of the dancing, musical review saloon shows. Well, Kyle stole the show. He actually had the actors bent over laughing at his performances. He jumped up on the bar with one of the actors and even did the "Charleston" with one of the actresses. He laughed and laughed whenever he retold this story.
Note from daughter Rosemary:
Cecil Kyle Rigby
There are so many things I could say about my dad that this book would turn into volumes. He was a hard worker and did whatever it took to provide for his family. No matter what the task was, he gave it everything he had. In addition to his regular employment, he took on odd jobs to help take care of the family and also maintained a home and rental property. He was a family man. Not just a father and a husband, but a son, a brother, an uncle, and a cousin. His extended family was important to him. He was always concerned about their health and circumstances. If there was anything he could do, it was done. What incredible love he demonstrated to me by taking care of his bedridden mother for almost 7 years, his sister dying of cancer, and his mother-in-law in her final days. He was tired, but never quit. He was giving. I watched him time after time give clothes, money, and time to those who needed it. As his children, we were guaranteed the last piece of pie or cake or cookie. He was never proud or haughty, but humble and grateful for his many blessings. He use to say to me “You are no better than anyone else and no one else is better than you”. He loved the Lord and had no greater desire than to lead others to Him. There was never a time that he counseled someone without asking them about their relationship with God.
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1916 - 1999 (83 years)
