Ethel Mae (Ridener) Nelson, 89, of Sarcoxie, Missouri passed away Thursday, January 11, 2018 in the comfort of her home.

Ethel was born on December 3, 1928 in Blackburn, Oklahoma, daughter of the late Fred and Mary (Corbin) Ridener. She was a graduate of Blackburn High School and later attended business college in Tulsa, Oklahoma. On May 27, 1950 she was united in marriage to William Nelson. Together they shared forty-three years until his passing on January 7, 1993. For several years she worked for Justin Boot and the Sarcoxie Nursing Center. She enjoyed her house plants, reading, crocheting, yard work and spending time with her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband; two children, Mike Nelson and Lynda (Nelson) Linder; two great-grandchildren, Araya and Ander; one brother, Benny Ridener and two sisters, Juanita Bell Ridener and Arlene (Ridener) Rhodes.

Ethel is survived by one son, Dean Linder, of Ava, Missouri, one daughter, Alicia Riley, of Branson, Missouri; ten grandchildren, Christi George and husband, Duane, of Reeds, Missouri, Kent Coy and wife, Monica, of Carterville, Missouri, Tracy Wickstrom and husband, Eric of Mustang, Oklahoma, Elizabeth DiLoreto and husband, Teddy of Carthage, Missouri, Sarah Nelson and Danny of Webb City, Missouri, William Nelson and Mariah of Webb City, Missouri, Candi Spencer and husband, Matt, of Seymour, Missouri, Jeremy Aleshire, of Branson, Missouri, Sherri Aleshire-Goss, of Branson, Missouri and Lucy Riley, of Branson, Missouri; seventeen great-grandchildren; as well as a host of other family and friends.

Funeral services are 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 13, 2018 at Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home, Sarcoxie, Missouri with Pastor Don Sullivan officiating. Interment will follow in the Sarcoxie Cemetery, Sarcoxie, Missouri. Visitation will be from 9-11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are Carson Tyndall, Kent Coy, William Nelson, Teddy DiLoreto, Eric Wickstrom, Matt Spencer and William Spencer. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website www.houshgoodwinfunrealhome.com . Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home in Sarcoxie, Missouri.