Autumn Ridley

Sep 27, 1995 -

Feb 7, 2023

On Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, Autumn Apok Ridley, age 27, left us too soon while residing in Houston, Texas.

Autumn was born on Sept. 27, 1995, in Anchorage, Alaska, to Maurice Ridley and Jacqueline Nothstine. She was proud to be a descendant from the Native Village of Wales, Alaska, and graduated from Anchorage West High School in 2015. She cherished spending time with family in all settings, especially with her nieces and nephews. She was passionate with her Alaska Native heritage in picking berries, cutting fish, beading, sewing and participating as a lifetime member of the Kingikmiut Singers and Dancers of Anchorage. She also embraced dances from many other indigenous cultures.

After spending many years with the Alaskan Native Heritage Center, first as an intern eventually embarking upon her athletic career, she was most spirited with the Native Youth Olympics, World Eskimo Indian Olympics, the Arctic Winter Games and holds three world records in the following events: Alaska High Kick, One-Foot High Kick and the Two-Foot High Kick. She inspired others to strive for their personal best, and she was a role model to everyone who came to know her. She was recently inducted into the Northern American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame.

Autumn is survived by her grandmothers, Sophie Nothstine and Katie Lee; mother, Jacqueline Lee; biological father, Maurice Ridley; father, Henry Lee; and siblings, Samuel, Corey, Aldin, Lorenzo, Chadd, Kandus, Banique and Adele. Autumn also leaves beloved nieces and nephews and many other relatives, friends, colleges and cohorts in the traditional indigenous sports across Canada and Alaska.

Family and friends of Autumn Apok are invited to Autumn's Celebration of Life at the Alaska Native Heritage Center at 11 a.m., on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023. Donations can be made via GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/10414b6f.