Ollie Fae Riley

Ollie Riley

Ollie Fae (Shearer) Riley was born June 30, 1931 in Eden, Texas in her grandparents’ house where the beautiful park now is in the southern part of Eden. Mrs. Ollie (as she was known by the nurses and attendants at Central Texas Nursing and Rehabilitation in Ballinger, Texas) spent most of her childhood in Eden. She graduated from Eden in 1948 at the age of sixteen. She married Halbert Eugene (Gene) Riley, who had returned from the war and finished High School with Ollie, on June 1, 1948.

When Mike was reaching school age, the Rileys moved to Canyon, Texas and setup residency. They lived there from 1957 until 1966, when they moved to Eden to be closer to Gene’s mother.
While in Eden, Ollie worked in the family drive-in called Riley’s Burgers (where the car wash is now located, and the original building is now part of the Red Baron restaurant).
After Mike’s graduation from High School, she found employment with County Attorney John Harrod and worked for Mr. Harrod until his passing and then was employed by Bill Campbell. She later worked at the Eden Public Library.

Over the years, Ollie had battled ovarian cancer, breast cancer, back surgery, knee replacement and was currently enduring skin cancer which would eventually be the battle she could not win. She had a resolve that was strong enough to carry her through many struggles.
Mrs. Ollie passed from this life on October 11, 2014 while in Central Texas Nursing and Rehabilitation in Ballinger, Texas. She was 83 years old.

Mrs. Ollie was preceded in death by her parents, Ollie Reece Shearer and Mattie A. (Gardner) Shearer; two sisters, Mary Ellen (Shearer) Riley and Dorothy (Shearer) Duckworth; two nieces and one nephew.

She is survived by her son Mike Riley and his wife Suzann of Ballinger, Texas; two nieces, Sue Riley of San Angelo, Texas and Gaye (Duckworth) Sutton and her husband Phil of Odessa, Texas; three grandchildren, Julie (Riley) Gray of Ballinger, Texas, Amy (Riley) Alejandro and husband Adrian of Garland, Texas and Reece Riley of College Station, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Meredith Gray and Melodie Gray of Ballinger, Texas and one great-grandchild on the way to Amy and Adrian Alejandro.

Her character, resolve, smile, laughter and yes, often stubbornness, will be sorely missed by all that ever knew her. The memories that she created for everyone in the family will last forever as a reminder of who she was. She represented the “old guard” of honesty, truthfulness, integrity and loyalty. If you wanted an opinion on something, she would give it to you, and that would never waiver.

So long, Mrs. Ollie, Mama, Nannie.

Service is 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at Eden Funeral Home chapel followed by burial in Eden Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers and memorials, please send contributions to Eden Public Library.