FERRIDAY — Funeral Services for Michael Wayne Ritchie, 61, of Monterey, who died Saturday, March 28, 2015, will be at 11 a.m. today at Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday with the Rev. Tony Ganey officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 9 am until service time at the funeral home.

Mike was born Dec. 16, 1953, in Natchez, the son of Bobby Glynn Ritchie and Mrs. Peggy Ritchie Smith.

We thank God for his life. After graduating from Vidalia High School 1971, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After his service to his country, he attended University of Southern Mississippi College in Hattiesburg, where he earned his master’s degree plus 30 in education and adult supervision. He taught in the Concordia Parish School System for 31 years at Ferriday Upper Elementary School, Monterey High School and most recently as GED teacher and facilitator for the Concordia Parish Correctional Facility. In 2006, he was named LAPCAE Adult Education Teacher of the Year for the State of Louisiana. Living in Concordia Parish his entire life, he was an avid outdoorsman. He loved tending to his yard, fishing, hunting and cooking for family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father; wife, Delores Hollis Ritchie; maternal grandparents, Ettis Pearl Nettles and Walter E. Nettles; and paternal grandparents, Archie V. and Stella Ritchie.

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Johns Ritchie; mother and her husband, Marion, of Monterey; one daughter, Jeanne Ritchie Weeks of Natchez; one son, Byron Ritchie of New Roads, La.; brothers, Steve Ritchie of Washington, Tony Ritchie and wife, Beth; nephew Nolan of Frisco, Texas; stepdaughter, Gina Evans Lucas of Wilmington, N.C.; sister-in-law, Gloria Jeffers and husband, Dwight, of Gaston, S.C. and Jamie Egan and husband, Gerry, of Raleigh, N.C.; mother in law, Dorothy Hutto of Gaston; five grandchildren, Shelby Ritchie and Haylie Ritchie of Houston, Jordan Ritchie of New Roads, Jessica Russell of Monterey, and Evan Lucas of Wilmington.

Pallbearers will be Nolan Ritchie, Marion Smith, Rick Carter, Phil Jernigan, Dave Yates, Sonny Lees.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Camellia Hospice, Penny Crain, Teresa Vangilder, Angie Harris, Kim Adams and Anna Laura Orr

Donations in lieu of flowers should be made to Camellia Hospice or American Cancer Society.

Online condolence may be sent to youngsfh.com.