Myrtle (Taylor) Rikard

OBITUARY FOR MYRTLE T. RIKARD

Early Sunday morning, April 25, 2021, Myrtle T. Rikard passed from this life to her eternal home in Heaven.  After years of declining health, she made her transition to be with Christ.  She was 89 years old and was a resident at National Health Care in West Columbia .  She is predeceased by her husband, Harold J. Rikard; her parents, Lawrence F. Taylor, and Reta Sharpe Taylor of Gaston ; three brothers and six sisters.  Mrs. Rikard was born on July 26, 1931.

Surviving family include her daughters, Joan R. (Clayton) Shumpert of West Columbia and Sherry R. (Jeff) Phillips of Lexington; six grandchildren: Rachel (Mike) Frazier of Canton, Ohio; Gena (Morgan) Lindsey of Lexington, SC; Stacy (Allen) Gleaton of West Columbia; John (Christine) Shumpert of Chattanooga, TN; Taylor (Chris) Johnson of San Antonio, TX; and Evan Phillips of Cayce, SC.  Surviving great grandchildren include the following: Lauren and Connor Frazier of Canton , O H ; Justin Frazier of Smithfield, VA; Lindsay (Elias) Leach of Charlotte , NC; Clay Aschleman of Bubsheim, Germany; Jackson, Grant, Addison and Ryan Gleaton of West Columbia, SC ; Rikard Johnson of San Antonio, TX.  She is also survived by a brother, Delmage Taylor of Pelion, SC.

Mrs. Rikard was an unselfish person who spent a lifetime helping her children, grandchildren, and many in the community.  Her life was a life of dedication to others.  If she knew of a need, she labored to help meet that need.  Even though she faced many health issues, she worked hard for others.  She loved her family and was proud of each one.  She covered all of us with her hand made blankets and quilts.  She enjoyed bre e ding and working with her shelties.  She made many friends over the years through neighborhood crime watch.  She sacrificed for us in so many ways.  A few include her sacrifices to pay for Joan’s piano lessons and working hard to put Sherry through nursing school.  Her cakes and the food that she cooked for us are still being talked about.  One time when she went to visit Gena in Hawaii, she carried a 6-layer banana cake on her lap.  We will miss her but we take comfort in knowing that she is with the Lord and is now young, free of pain, and has no worries.  It is our hope that you will accept Christ so that your eternity is secure.

The service will be Thursday, April 29 th , at 2:00 at Moseley Funeral & Cremation Service in West Columbia with visitation one hour prior to the service. Inter ment will be immediately following at Harmony Baptist Church in Gaston, SC .  Many thanks to the staff at NHC of West Columbia and to Abbey Road Hospice of Chapin. We appreciate the care given to our mother and grandmother.