Mary Ruth Riley
Mary Ruth Riley, 89, of Anna, died Monday, Aug. 5, 2019, at her home.
She was born on Dec. 5, 1929, in Encinitas, Calif., the daughter of Jesse Amuel and Ruth L. Spurlock Rushing.
She is survived by her children, Linda (Wayne) Roseborough of Carbondale, Michael Riley of Girard, Kan., and Alice (Jason) Watterson of Murphysboro; 10 grandchildren, James Paul, Roy Glenn and Shawn J. Rutledge, Heather Steel, Breanna Layne Roseborough, Yvonne Marie Higgins-Riley, Michael Joseph Riley, Dustin Reid Riley, Jeremy Alan Cobb and Lindsay Joy Bailey; 19 great-grandchildren; a brother, Ernest Rushing of Missouri; a sister, Bertha M. Weiss of Anna; a special friend and caregiver, Doris Brock of Dongola; other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Vickie Joyce Rutledge; a son, Glenard “Leon” Frick Jr.; an infant sister, Marie Rushing; sisters Katherine Hill, Margaret Vrbanic, Peggy Poole; and one brother, Russell Rushing.
She was the matriarch of the Jonesboro Pentecostal Church, now known as the Trinity Pentecostal Tabernacle. She was a faithful believer and member of the church for many decades. She loved her church and church family. She never passed up an opportunity to witness about God to others. She especially loved attending the annual Camp Meeting in Elco, having taken her own children there over the years to what was an open air revival that began more than 50 years ago.
She loved to travel to visit her grandchildren out of state whenever possible, as they could always make her smile.
She attended Anna-Jonesboro Community High School and later attained her GED as an adult.
She worked for the Union County Long Term Care for many years before retirement. After retiring, she volunteered at the high school.
She was known for her kindness and sharing spirit to her friends at Anna Vista, often leaving treats and snacks at someone’s door and always remembered her friends birthdays with cards. She served as hall monitor at Anna Vista and was always ready to lend a helping hand to others without hesitation.
In her spare time she loved reading books, flower gardening and bird watching.
Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro, with the Rev. Geoff Bond officiating. Interment was in Casper Cemetery near Anna.
To view the obituary and to leave online condolences for the family, visit www.rendlemanhilemanfh.com.
Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Jonesboro was in charge of arrangements.