Obituary of Stephanie Dawn Rigney

Stephanie Dawn (Schwegler) Rigney, 52, passed from this earth with all its troubles and trials, at 11:23am, Friday, January 1, 2021, due to compilations related to Covid-19. She was a patient at Lexington Medical Center, West Columbia, SC.

Stephanie was born September 22, 1968 at St. Lukes Hospital, City of St. Louis, MO, the daughter William L. (Bill) and Judy Ann (Warren) Schwegler.

Growing up, Stephanie loved to go to the farm and spend time with Great-Aunt Sarah Hopkins and cousin Glenda. When she was about age nine, she discovered Bootheel Youth Camp. She would have spent the entire summer there had we let her. Stephanie obeyed the gospel and was baptized at Bootheel.

Stephanie was Class of 1986 at Hazelwood West High, Hazelwood, MO and Class of 1990 at Freed-Hardeman University, Henderson, TN.  At Freed-Hardeman, she attained a degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education and was certified to teach in TN and NC. She found her purpose in life building strong relationships with her students in a small classroom setting. For the past fifteen years, she taught for Colonial Christian Academy in West Columbia.

She took her first job in Charlotte, NC, where she met the love of her life, Steven Rigney. They were married May 28, 1994, at Carolina Bible Camp, Mocksville, NC.

In addition to Steven, of the home, she is survived by her parents, William and Judy Schwegler, Mission, TX; one brother, Jason Schwegler (Shannon), Grand Blanc, MI; one niece, two nephews, a multitude of cousins, and her cat, Xena, whom she loved dearly.

She was loved by her church family in West Columbia church of Christ and everybody who knew her.

The family is being served by Thompson Funeral Home, Lexington, SC. The funeral will be held in the Celestial Memorial Gardens Chapel at 3:00pm on Saturday, January 9, 2021. The funeral will be streamed live on the Facebook page of West Columbia Church of Christ.  Burial will be in Celestial Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in her name to one of the following: Lupus Foundation of America, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Medals4Mettle, or a charity of the donor’s choice.