The family of Brenda Kaye Justus Riding (Katy) is saddened to announce her passing on Nov. 20, 2015. Katy was born May 10, 1951 in Kiowa, Okla. to Mary Rivero of Hawthorne and James Justus of McCallister, Okla.
Katy was a leader and a teacher in all aspects of her life. As soon as she was old enough to explore the world; that is what she did, by moving to San Francisco. Some have said she was Hawthorne’s first flower child and that might be true, in the sense that she was a free spirit with ideas that were not as conventional as those she grew up around. She soon learned that to make it in the world she would have to find a job. She was bright and ambitious enough to land a job on the line at Hewlett Packard. She worked for the company for over 30 years and retired at the top of her game in the upper management of Hewlett Packard as a director. Her career was stellar.
She met and married the love of her life Jerry Riding and they were married for 35 beautiful years. The two of them were the definition of true love and soul mates. Their relationship was one that most people just dream of. Jerry will dearly miss his mate.
Katy traveled the world not only with her work, but also with her husband, friends and family. She was generous, kind and caring to all who came into contact with her, but especially with her family. She was always looking to see where she could enhance the lives of the people she loved, generously making available dream vacations and beautiful experiences to them. Her thoughtful planning made many family reunions seem as though they were effortless. Her family will miss her for all the time we are still on this earth.
Katy was preceded in death by her stepfather Louis Rivero and niece Lisa Moss-Oberhansli (Dean). She is survived by many who love her: mother Mary Rivero; father James Justus; aunt Margie Fisher of Hawthorne; sister Jeri Aberasturi (Jack) of Council, Idaho; her brother’s: Terry Rivero (Robin) of Tonopah, Nev.; JD Justus and Cory Rivero (Andrea) of Hawthorne and stepsister’s: Laurie Bray (Larry) of Stillwater, Nev.; Linda Barton (Glade) of Winnemucca and Gina Jones (Mark) of Winnemucca.
She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews: Michelle Moss Dow (Dr. Bruce Dow); Raquel Moss Aberastrui (John) of Winnemucca; Mariah Rivero of Las Vegas; Nycole and Dakota Rivero of Cottonwood, Calif. and Amanda Rivero of Hawthorne. Also great nieces and nephews: Jacqueline Dow of Portland, Ore.; Katie Dow of Seattle, Wash.; Macie, Bodie and Ryder Oberhansli of Hawthorne; Kerie Morgan (Bryan), Leah Justus and Mathew Justus of Jena, La. and Jackson and Jace Aberasturie of Winnemucca.
Words can never truly express how the loss of our beloved Katy will impact the people in her life, but we hope that all who read this will get a glimpse into the life of an impeccable human being. A private service was held at the house of Bruce and Michelle Dow on Nov. 25, 2015.
