Margaret A. Riley

Margaret “Peggy” Ann Riley (88) died March 27, 2020 at Stoneybrook Health in Manhattan, KS, after struggling with a slowly progressive dementia for nearly 20 years. She was married to Wayne Riley on August 14, 1949 in Neodesha, KS, spending 66 years together. Peggy was born on May 22, 1931 in Osawatomie, KS to Curham and Esther Williams, the youngest of four siblings. The family moved to Neodesha, KS during her childhood and she graduated from Neodesha High School in 1949. In high school, Peggy received numerous awards as a marching band baton leader, and she enjoyed music and school plays. Wayne and Peg were great dancers and on occasions the floor was cleared for them to perform. In Neodesha Peg had several jobs including telephone operator, doctor’s receptionist, and bank teller. Family, faith and friends were important to Peg. The family went on numerous trips to the lake where they camped, swam, water skied all day, and sometimes fished for trout. She could float for hours. They often made trips to visit family members as well, including a trip to NY to visit her sister Kay and the 1964 NY World’s Fair. For Christmas Homemade candies were made as well as ‘snow covered’ cedar trees adorn with blue lights. She and Wayne were vegetable gardeners and raised many gladiolas. Peg was an active member of St Ignatius Catholic Church in Neodesha and donated many gladiola flower arrangements there. After the close of the AMOCO refinery in 1969, Peg moved several times with Wayne’s AMOCO jobs including: Bismarck ND, Trinidad, Egypt for 8 years, and Farmington, NM for about 4 years. After Wayne retired from AMOCO they moved to Kearny, MO, where they worked as realtors for few years, and lived in various places in Kansas City and Lawrence area before settling in on Bella Vista, AR for retirement where they lived for nearly 20 years. Peg and Wayne were world travelers visiting Lebanon, Israel, Kenya, Russia, Yugoslavia, Greece and Australia among others. While living in Egypt she became a fearless taxi driver for other expatriates and a master haggler with all the vendors at the crowed Muskie market place. She followed her grandkids activities, from gymnastic and swim meets to softball and rodeo events. She liked playing card games, like Tripoley, with them as well. One year she spoofed them with a ‘Dirt’ Birthday Cake using a Oreo cookie crusted ice cream cake. She also enjoyed entertaining adult meals as well. She was very active in St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Bella Vista, serving in capacities as choir member, Eucharistic Minister to the homebound, Bible Study Leader, and Shepherd group facilitator. Peg was proceeded in death by her Husband, Wayne in 2015, her parents and her three siblings: Kay Howell of San Diego, Tom Williams of Neodesha and Bill Williams of Joplin. She is survived by her three children: Michael Riley of Alma, KS, Colleen Riley of Lawrence, KS, Joe Kevin Riley of Murray, KY, and their spouses; 11 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. Mass will be offered on Wednesday July 29, 2020 1:00pm at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bella Vista, Ar. It will be followed by her internment next to Wayne Riley at St. Bernard Catholic Church Columbarium. A Rosary will be said prior to Mass at 12:30. In lieu of flowers, we request any memorial contributions be made to the Compassion Committee at St. Bernard Catholic Church.