Ethyle Riley

Ethyle was born at home in Mineral on July 3, 1918, to Harry and Mabel (Hodgett) Comp and passed away in Kewanee.

Ethyle was married to Ward Riley for 59 years (Ward preceded her in death on Dec. 8, 1999). Ethyle’s joy was her family and grandchildren. She spent her life spoiling all of us. She loved music … especially The Big Band Sound … and loved to dance with Ward. You would see a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face when listening to her music.

In addition to raising her family and doting on her grandchildren, Ethyle was a farm wife and spent lots of time in the fields helping whenever she was needed. She really enjoyed the 13 years she spent as a dietician for Colonial Hall Nursing Home in Princeton before her retirement in June 1987. She was also active in Eastern Star in Sheffield and served as Worthy Matron in 1962.

Ethyle had a great sense of humor and enjoyed life. Her family enjoyed her wit and her spirit and her sense of adventure. Her family has been blessed to have her for so many wonderful years here on earth and look forward one day to be with her again … as Ethyle had accepted Jesus as her Savior. One of her favorite bible verses was the 23rd Psalm … we can remember hearing her say it at night before she went to sleep. Ethyle was a member of the Mineral Methodist Church most of her life and served on various boards and committees in the church over the years.

Ethyle's survivors include two sons, Steve C Riley (Sally) of Mineral and Stanley L Riley of Perris, Calif. Ethyle is also survived by six grandchildren, Steve W Riley of Kewanee, Crystal L Ryerson (Tim) of Prescott, Ariz., Connie M Lucas (Gary) of Princeton, Alan E Riley (Whitney) of Redondo Beach, Calif., Brian Sierens (Karen) of Manlius and Bob Sierens (Allison) of Glencoe. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Ethyle was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Johnny Comp, in 1932; and a sister, Ada (Comp) Miller, in 1994.