Ricky was born in 1939 to Rae and Marge Wright and passed peacefully in her home with family at her side on September 29, 2025. She was the younger and only sibling of Marilyn Wright Forsell, who passed away in 2024. Rae and Marge were from long-time Petrolia and Ferndale families, and they raised their daughters primarily in Ferndale before later moving to the Miranda area. Ricky graduated from South Fork High School. She had many fond childhood memories of spending time with her grandparents exploring Petrolia and likely causing mischief.

All who knew Ricky knew of her lifelong love of animals. She was never without a dog and a menagerie of animals. Over the years, she assisted in the rescue of many neglected animals and wild critters.

Prior to retiring, Ricky was a medical assistant in several local doctors’ offices. After retirement, she spent numerous years providing care to elders in their homes. She took great pride in her skills and abilities tending to patients in both settings and was fondly regarded for the care she provided. One of her specialties was caregiving for “grumpy old men” with whom she would enjoy lively banter.

Ricky was very generous and helped people in need — at times to her own detriment. She was a smart, curious person who charmed people from all walks of life with her quick wit and rambunctious nature.

She lived life on her own terms and loved deeply her pets, friends, and family. She was unpretentious, and simple things in life brought her pleasure — like the smell of a pepperwood tree, laundry on the clothesline, the start of football season, and the feel of the breeze through a window.

As anyone who has enjoyed eating one of her homecooked meals or tasted one of her homemade apple pies can attest, Ricky was a fantastic cook who never skimped on butter or heavy cream in a recipe and who delighted in discussing recipes, tips, and tricks with her family and friends.

She is survived by her daughters Lynn Langdon and Jody Toste (Tim), her grandchildren, Kyle, Morgan (Gabe), and Madison, her great-grandchildren Chaz, Cade, Callee, and Kasen, and her nephews Drew and Matthew Forsell and families.

The family would like to thank her neighbors, James Baer and family, and her good friends Laurie Newman and others who supported her these last challenging years of her life. We are also very grateful for the excellent services Ricky received from the PACE program, Agape, Hospice, and for the Fortuna Fire Department, particularly the Hydesville crew, who always treated her with kindness.

At times like this, 
We may look through books for the perfect words 
To give form to our feelings, 
Make the thing complete, 
Set the matter at rest.
Yet, in hours of searching,
Each piece lies rejected – too precise, too difficult, too sweet, 
Too harsh, implying what we do not wish to say. 

But, look into the grey wide sky, 
And the thoughts will come like this: 
Remember me when I loved you most and you loved me most. 
Remember me when I was my bravest and I did you right. 
Then, let that be our secret bond 
And, let us rise in the morning and enjoy the light 
And know that the bird in the mist is returning to the sun.

— Author Unknown

As she would have preferred, no formal services are planned. Final arrangements were provided by Ayres Family Cremation.