Lela Fern Riley, 81, Topeka, formerly of Valley Falls, died Saturday,
Jan. 10, 2009, at a Topeka care facility.
She was born on Sept. 30, 1927, at Powhattan, the daughter of Elmer and Nancy Janie Deahl Massey.
Fern was a self-employed housekeeper and cook in Topeka. She had also worked at Valley View Nursing Home in Valley Falls and Jefferson County Geriatric Center in Winchester.
She married Leonard W. Riley on June 27, 1947. He died on April 16, 1970. She was also preceded in death by a son, Richard Allen Riley, a grandson, Tony Michael, two brothers, Dale Massey and Jerry Massey, and a sister, Dorothy Mauslin.
Survivors include two sons, William Riley, Topeka, and Leonard (Kim Fuqua) Riley, Mayetta; four daughters, Carylon (Jan) Pavlacka, Topeka, Janice Riley, Valley Falls, Sherry (Jim) Brese, Nortonville, and Barbara (Rickey) McHaley, Atchison; two brothers, Marvin Massey and Melvin Massey, both of Robinson; two sisters, Estelle Smith, and Darlene Burns, Turney, MO; eleven grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Burial will be at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, until service time. Memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Hospice and sent in care of the funeral home, 810 Broadway, Valley Falls, KS 66088. Online condolences are at www.mercerfuneralhomes.com