Lela May Riley

Lela May Riley, daughter of the late Evan and Faye (Presser) Coatney, was born on August 29, 1937 in Willow Springs, Missouri and departed this life on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 in the St. John’s Regional Health Center in Springfield, Missouri following a short illness. She was 72 years and 2 days of age.
Lela grew up and attended school in the Willow Springs area. She was united in marriage to Jerry Calvin Riley on September 16, 1954 in Mtn. Grove, Missouri by Rev. J.W. Light. Four children were born to this union.
They made their home and raised their family in the Mtn. Grove area. Lela was a true homemaker who enjoyed taking care of her family. She loved being outdoors, especially when tending to her flower and vegetable gardens. She liked wood crafts, going to yard sales, and being involved in the various activities at the Y.M.C.A. in Mtn. Grove.
She was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be truly missed by those who knew and loved her.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband: Jerry Riley on September 24, 1997; three brothers: Delbert Coatney, Clinton Coatney, and Carl Raymond Coatney; an infant sister; a grandson: Derrick James; and by a step-granddaughter: Jessica Davis.
She is survived by one son: Tom Riley and his wife, Vickie, of Sweetwater, Tennessee; three daughters: Teresa Kuster and her husband, Lee, of Mtn. Grove, Vicky Estes and her husband, Russell, of Springfield, Missouri, and Tina Monteith and her husband, Richard, of Mtn. Grove; two step-daughters: Debbie Tidwell and Sharon Cox, both of the State of Oklahoma; two sisters: Marie Rippee and her husband, Rex, of Pea Ridge, Arkansas and Linda Young and her husband, Ed, of Mtn. Grove; ten grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; fifteen step-great-grandchildren; two step-great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends who will miss her very much.


Funeral Services:
Friday, September 4, 2009 at 10:00 AM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel
Visitation:
9:00 - 10:00 AM before service, in the chapel.
Burial:
Hillcrest Cemetery