Trevalan Renee Riggle

Trev's opening movement of her symphony of life began on June 11, 1967 in Midwest City as the daughter of Joyce Ward and Floyd Riggle. The dynamics of the symphony began with her grandparents, Joe and Elizabeth Williams (deceased)- strong Oklahoma stock who expected hard work and greatness from her. Jason Cozort, her little brother (deceased) added the fun and challenge of her childhood with a frequent frog. Trev's older siblings, Dayna Cozort and Brad Cozort, did what big brothers and sisters do "boss littles around."Trev's musical world began at 4 years old as a "3 Tiny Hits" dance ensemble member which won a dance competition in Tulsa, receiving a trophy twice as big as she was. As a trumpet player in middle and high school band, she excelled being selected to an elite high school band to tour Europe twice.Her symphonic opening movement took her to Southwestern Oklahoma State University for a Bachelors in Music Education graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1989 and completing her Masters in Music Education in 1990. Her pedagogical philosophy of music education for children was the Orff Schulwerk approach and she crafted her skill as she pursued and completed three master levels of Orff at the University of St. Thomas and the University of Kentucky.Trev's scherzo or 2nd movement of life symphony took her to Yukon Public Schools, where her magic in the classroom began utilizing the Orff philosophy of awakening children to music thru play with a mixture of singing, movement, and playing instruments. She continued her brilliance in the music classroom at Westminster School giving 27 years of her love and passion to hundreds of children and their families and her faculty colleagues.One faculty colleague wrote: "only great schools would have the honor or Trevalan and they must have will to cherish her always. She was an inspiration to students and teachers. Rarely does a teacher have the passion and command of her subject matter and the passion to hold the attention of children with amazing classroom management skills. She is charismatic in an authentic way."Parents have shared these words: "teachers truly make a difference in student's lives. Ms. Riggle did make a difference for our son. She saw something in him that no one else was catching at the time. She helped him realized he had qualities to be proud of. He wanted to play Led Zeppelin at the 5th grade Shinning Hour and they rocked it." And from another parent, "Her 4th grade plays were amazing. She got my shy little girl on stage for The Lion King and she soared."And from her former students:" Just wanted to share my deepest and most heartfelt sympathy for this loss. Trevalan radically changed my life as a teacher and unfathomable wonderful mentor in elementary school and for that alone, I will always love and cherish her memory." From another former student, "Trev did so much for me- she was one of a kind."Words of praise are well deserved from students, parents, faculty, and professional Orff colleagues. But further recognition of her genius was bestowed on her by being a finalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award.Her life symphony's third movement was a "perfect harmony" as she married her life long partner, Carla Splaingard, in their beloved Santa NM on November 5, 2019. They together raised one son, Andrew Splaingard, and opened their home to Walker Berry as a second son. As to "fur babies", and many there have been, "Little Mama" loved and cared for them with all her being.Nothing was more important to her than her family, especially her niece, Samantha Cozort Prentise and her nephew, Mitchell Cozort (deceased) and Jasie Cozort (deceased).Trev took her passion for helping others to real estate as a Realtor with Remax Preferred in Oklahoma City over the last two years. No sale was too small for her to put her heart into her new-found career.Trev's third symphonic movement was expanding from family, wife, Mom, fur baby Mom and real estate as she began only one week before her death working as musical collaborator on a yet to be released Hollywood film using of course the music of Carl Orff.All of those plans and life to live and love to give to others came to an end only 54 short years after it began, when the 4th and last movement of her life's symphony struck its final note on June 29, 2021 in Oklahoma City, OK. "Music Matters"- Trev taught us that. She has given to each of us- the gift of her life and we are all so grateful for that. If you would like to make a gift in Trev's name, please do so with the Oklahoma Humane Society, PO Box 18471, OKC, OK 73154 or fundraising okhumane.org or 405-286-1229.