Michael Gwynn Riggs, MD., 72 of Lorena, passed away Tuesday, June 19, 2018.
Visitation: Friday, June 22, 2018 6-8pm at Lake Shore Funeral Home
Funeral Service: 10:00 am Saturday, June 23, 2018 at Lake Shore Funeral Home with interment to follow at Waco Memorial Park.
Michael was born February 24, 1946 in Ranger, TX to Robert and Marian Cooper Riggs. He spent most of his life in Waco, and graduated from Midway High School. Michael attended Tarleton State University where he received his undergraduate degree. Following graduation, he attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. He served his residency at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, and at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA. Michael spent time in the US Navy, serving in the reserves from August of 1969 to July of 1992, with active duty time from 1974 to 1976, and he was a Lt. Commander when he left the Navy. In 1986, Michael married Donna Honeycutt and they spent the next 32 years together.
From the time Michael was a boy, his favorite hobby was writing stories. Historical fiction, science fiction, adventure, just stories. Michael would write and submit his stories to magazines and other various publications, and every once in a while, one of his stories would be purchased. Some of those stories later became the basis for several popular movies.
Michael also enjoyed history, and could give you a history lesson on almost any topic at any time. And with his imagination, the story that accompanied the lesson may have been “embellished” a little, just to put his own unique spin on it, but the basic fact was still there.
He loved being a doctor, and treated thousands of Wacoans over the years. He was in private practice for 30 years in Waco, before going to work for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He worked at several of the prison units around central Texas, and when asked how he liked working at the prison, he always said he wished he had known about that 30 years ago.
But as much as he loved being a doctor, he loved his family even more. His wife, kids, and especially his grandkids, always seemed to put a twinkle in his eye. Whether he was giving a son-in-law advice on a new project or purchase, lecturing the grand kids about their grades or to “Trust No One”, or slipping a $20 to one of the girls on their way out the door, Michael always made sure his family was taken care of.
Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Marian Riggs; and his father and mother-in-law, Robbie and Vera Honeycutt.
He is survived by his wife, Donna; daughters, Traci Kimberling and husband Chad, Tami Parsons, and Toni Peebles and husband Justin; grandchildren, Taylor Kimberling, Chandler Kimberling, Paige Peebles, and Cameron Peebles; grand-dog Mila; sisters, Patty Walker and husband John, and Pam Chandler and husband Jack; and a large and loving extended family, including the many patients he treated, and the Nurses who helped him serve Waco, both past and present.
Contact Info:
Lake Shore Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
Print Obituary & Condolences
My family and are deeply sorry for your loss. The pain of losing a love one can be unbearable. May God be with your family at this most difficult time. Please be assure that God is close to all those brokenhearted and crush in spirit. Psalm 34:18. soon God will removed death forever and bring back our love ones who have died by means of a resurrection. Revelation 21:3,4 and Acts 24:15
My deepest condolences to your family’s, I had the pleasure to work with Dr Riggs, he will be missed
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I’ve never seen a doctor more committed to coming to work each and every day. Weekends, holidays, he was always there. We will miss him ???? I hope you find comfort in all your great memories. Lane Murray will never be the same. My thoughts and prayers are with all of his friends and family.
Prayers for the family what will Lane Murray do without him? He was a pleasure to work with.
Prayers for your family. He was a wonderful funny man and Doctor. We loved working with him.
Rancho Pacifico will not be the same. He was such a great neighbor and friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
So sorry for the loss of the good Dr Riggs. I had the pleasure of working with him and will always think of him fondly. Praying God will bring you all comfort. Pat Gwin
We will sincerely miss seeing Dr. Riggs working around the house. He always had a smile and a wave. You are great next door neighbors and our sympathy and thoughts are with you.
My sympathy to the Riggs family. Doc Riggs was our physician back in the day, and God broke the mold when He made this wonderful man!
As former patients of Dr. Riggs we are sad to hear of his passing. He was such a good doctor and friend. Prayers to the family.
So very sorry to hear of Dr. Riggs passing. He was my Dr. For a long time. Sending prayers for all during this difficult time. May the good Lord wrap you in his comfort and peace.
Donna and Traci, Tammy & Toni my prayers are with you all. It’s so hard to lose a loved one as family we have. But hold your Faith with God for your strength and comfort. LLove Cindy Hillis-Ledbetter. Love you all.
Mike was my Doc when he first came back to Waco in the 70s and opened his office in the Hillcrest Medical Tower. We were friends when he moved to his office behind Richland Mall, and I was sorry when he left Waco (I may have been the only rattlesnake bite patient he ever had to treat, LOL). A nice guy!
Dr. Riggs was a great man! When I worked for him, he treated me as one of his own. I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers for the family.
Donna & all of Dr. Riggs Family,
I was saddened to hear of your loss. Eventhough I did not know Dr. Riggs personally, just the kind words left here by his friends & colleagues tell what kind of man he truly was. Donna, having lost my husband 7 years ago, I know your journey will not be easy but your faith and family and friends will get you by.
Love & Prayers,
Pat Golson Dixon
So sorry! Prayers for the family!
Darlene And Lisa Jordan
After consultations with seemingly every MD in town back in the early 80’s, I was referred to Dr. Riggs by a friend concerning a “strange” and debilitating illness I had contracted. After a thorough exam, tests, etc., he pronounced that I had the first diagnosed case of Lymes Disease in Central Texas. He was the only doc who had seen a case like mine when he served as a USN physician up in the metroplex. Because of his care and experience, I survived and thrived. Thank you, Dr. Riggs! May God comfort your family and friends. You are missed.
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. We will be remembering the family in our thoughts and prayers.
What to say??? As a nurse who worked with him, I learned what a caring and sweet man he was! Everyday when he left he said call me if you need anything. (Even though he wasn’t on call that evening). N yes I took him up on that offer a time or two. He was always diligent in his orders and never put off that I called him. If I couldn’t get ahold of him I’d call his sweet wife who gave him the phone without hesitation. I miss him so much!!!! Much condolences to his family. My prayers are with you!! Julie Seelinger, RN. Woodman State Jail
Mike and I graduated Midway High School and attended Tarleton State together. He was my Dads doctor before he died. Mike was a good man and will be missed. Our prayers and thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
So sorry to hear of Dr. Riggs passing. I worked for him as did many of my nurse friends. He was always nice and fun to work with.
If all doctors were like Michael G. Riggs, this world would most definitely be a better and healthier place for us all. I first met Dr. Riggs on December 27, 1999. That was the last time I had the flu, and he helped get me over it within a few short days! Then, in January 2004, I was running a fever and had some breaking out on my back that I thought was a spider or insect bite. Dr. Riggs knew right away that it was chicken pox (I was 34 at the time). He helped get me over it and was very professional and I felt comfortable under his care. His office was near Richland Mall in Waco, so it was very convenient, too. I miss those days and it was so nice to be able to walk into a Dr.s office and be seen immediately without having to fill out tons of forms . Rest In Peace, Dr. Riggs. It was indeed a great honor and privilege to have known you, sir. May God Bless and comfort your family.