Don was born on Feb. 10, 1956 in Crescent City and took his Journey on April 15 in Hoopa.

Don worked many years in the woods as a logger and he also loved to go mushrooming every year with family or friends and sometimes just by himself. Don loved the mountains! Don was just Don and anyone that knew him well understood this. He was a man with few words, but when he did say something you knew.

He also had a soft spot for animals and had many dogs over the years. If friends or family didn’t have dog food Don would go buy a bag of food for them. But, Don had his favorites of his dogs, Ventura, Little Man, Sambo, Calie, Lobo, Jimmy, Buttons and both Tia’s. He would feed cats that would come up to his trailer door and dogs that got lost he would bring them home and try to find there families to return them to the owner.

Don had many friends from all walks of life and would help them in time of needs and also for his family. Don could be hard at times but he always loved his family and friends.

Don had survived by Vi Long for a little over 20 years and his uncle and aunt Darrel D. and Connie Ridenour and all his nieces nephews, and Steve Lee. He had one daughter Crystal Lynn Ridenour-Withers and one step-daughter Sunshine.

Don will preceded in death by his four brothers: Stanley D. Ridenour, Johnny A. Ridenour, Douglas L. Ridenour, Gerald E. Ridenour, and his two sister’s: Linda L. Ridenour-Noble, and Mildred K. Criteser-Dildine.

Don is also preceded in death by his parents, mother side Mabel K. Doolittle and father Stanley L. Ridenour; grandparents on mother side George W. Doolittle and Alta M. Cooke-Doolittle-Leslie. Father side Austin Ridenour and Maude A. Nunemaker-Ridenour.

He had a very large family of nieces and nephews and Don loved each and everyone of them!

Don loved Christmas and his birthday don’t let him fool you, these were his special days. He loved the food and presents. His eyes would light up and a big smile on his face unwrapping the presents.

Don tribal blood lines were with Smith River, Nome Lackie, Tolowa, and Pitt River. We were just starting his enrollment with the SmithRiver Tribe at the time of his passing.

We would like to say thank you to Dr. Hong at Kimaw Medical Center, for everything. Thank you Boogie, Don nieces for helping, and Doug and Sharon Jackson, Jeff and Jenn Charvat, Steve Lee and to all the people that have reached out to me. It is very much appreciated!!

I’m very sorry if I have left out anything or anyone here in this obit.

Don’s health had been declining for a few months. Don’s passing was do to his lung disease and a ruptured gallbladder.

Don didn’t want any kind of services, he will be cremated and taken to; French Hill Cemetery in Gasquet, Del Norte County, California and ashes scattered in the Cooke’s Family Plot. When we get ready to go scatter Don’s ashes, I will make a post on Facebook of the date and time.

Though we mourn his passing, we take comfort in the love he gave so freely and the strong, beautiful family and friends Don leaves behind. He will be deeply missed and loved forever and live in our hearts forever ♥️

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Don Ridenour’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.