Funeral Services for Michael Wayne Ritchie of Monterey were 11 a.m. on Monday, March 30, at Young’s Funeral Home in Ferriday with burial in Greenlawn Cemetery in Natchez. Young’s Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation was Monday, March 30, 2015, from 9 until 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Services will be officiated by Rev. Tony Ganey.

Mr. Ritchie, 61, died March 28, 2015. He was born on Dec. 16, 1953 in Natchez to the late Bobby Glynn Ritchie and Mrs. Peggy Ritchie Smith, of Vidalia.

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 the 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/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.

Preceding him in death were his father; his late wife, Delores Hollis Ritchie; maternal grandparents, Ettis Pearl Nettles and Walter E. Nettles of Brookhaven; paternal grandparents, Archie V. and Stella Ritchie of Ridgecrest, Louisiana.

Survivors are his wife, Sylvia Johns Ritchie of Monterey, his mother, Peggy Ritchie Smith and her husband, Marion, of Monterey; one daughter, Jeanne Ritchie Weeks of Natchez; one son, Byron Ritchie of New Roads, Louisiana; brothers, Steve Ritchie of Washington, Tony Ritchie and wife, Beth; and nephew Nolan of Frisco, Texas; stepdaughter, Gina Evans Lucas of Wilmington, North Carolina; sister-in-law, Gloria Jeffers and husband, Dwight of Gaston, South Carolina, Jamie Egan and husband, Gerry, of Raleigh, North Carolina; mother-in-law Dorothy Hutto of Gaston; five grandchildren, Shelby Ritchie and Haylie Ritchie of Houston, Texas, Jordan Ritchie of New Roads, Louisiana, Jessica Russell of Monterey and Evan Lucas of Wilmington, North Carolina.

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. For an online condolence please visit www.youngsfh.com.