Earla Mae Riley Obituary

Earla Mae Riley, 81, of Rector, Arkansas passed away on April 10, 2026 at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. She was born on July 19, 1944 in Shenandoah, Iowa to Edgar Earl and Leona Mae (Hicks) Swinney.

Earla Mae was a graduate of Campbell High School class of 1962. She also was a graduate of Kennett Area Vocational School and became an LPN Nurse. She and her husband Dewey George Lawrence united in marriage on December 8, 1962 and had two children. She was a member of the First Assembly of God church and enjoyed attending gospel concerts. She also enjoyed traveling, crocheting, and spending time with her family, but especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Survivors include; lifelong companion: Dewey George Lawrence; one daughter: Victoria Gilbert (David) of Kentucky; one son: Timothy Lawrence (Runay) of Marmaduke, Arkansas; eight grandchildren: Phillip Lawrence (Kayleigh), Tim Lawrence, Brandon Lawrence (Sarah), Shayleigh Lawrence, Christopher Hahn (Sarah), Steven Hahn (Sabrina), Matthew Hahn (Deejana), Amanda Gilbert; five step grandchildren: Robert West (Lindsay), Christopher Dingee, Kristin Evans, James Gilbert, Joseph Gilbert (Jackie); nine great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other family and friends.

She is preceded in death by; her parents: Edgar Earl and Leona Mae (Hicks) Swinney; husband: Clarence Earl Riley; one brother: Henry Michael Swinney; and two sisters: Loretta Jean Book and Lillie Alleen Blansett.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 1:00 P.M. at Kennett First Assembly of God in Kennett, Missouri with Rev. Henry Riber and Rev. James Evans officiating. The family will receive visitors at the church from 12:00 P.M. until service time. Interment will follow at Dunklin County Memorial Gardens in Kennett, Missouri under the direction of Faith Funeral Service.

A reception will be held at the church fellowship hall immediately following the graveside service.