Obituary of Elsie Riley

Longtime Cheyenne Wells, Colorado resident Elsie Freida Riley, age 88, passed away on Monday, December 1, 2008 at the Cheyenne Manor in Cheyenne Wells. Elsie was born on December 14, 1919 to Phillip and Mollie Foos. She was the 6th of nine children. When Elsie’s mother Mollie passed away, the family moved to Towner, Colorado. Later the family moved to a farm south of Arapahoe, Colorado where Elsie attended Arapahoe School and graduated from the eighth grade. Elsie moved to Cheyenne Wells and worked at the UP Café. While working there, she met and married Earl Riley on December 23, 1944. They were married in Sharon Springs, Kansas. Earl and Elsie moved into a home in Arapahoe for a few years before moving back to Cheyenne Wells. After a long wait, they had a son, and named him Clifford. Clifford was so adorned by Earl and Elsie! Tragically, Clifford was killed in a car accident at the age of fourteen. It was a sad time for Elsie, and it changed her life. Elsie continued working as a waitress in several café’s, and later after Earl retired from the railroad, she joined him keeping busy with house and yard work. She loved to crochet. She loved all her neighbors, and children loved to come into her house for cookies. Some of you in the funeral service may have enjoyed some of these cookies. Elsie is preceded in death by her parents, son Clifford; husband Earl, four brothers; Robert, Fred, Reinhold, Ted and one sister Mollie Stenzel. She is survived by three sisters; Lorene Weed of Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, Dorothy Fromm and her husband Frank of Dodge City, Kansas and Viola Bergquist of Tribune, Kansas. Also surviving her are numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. Riley were held on Thursday, December 4, 2008 at the First Christian Church in Cheyenne Wells with Pastor Mike Lewis officiating. Burial followed in the Fairview Cemetery in Cheyenne Wells. Visitation was held one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made in her name to the Cheyenne Manor, Cheyenne Wells and may be left at the Eastern Colorado Bank, Cheyenne Wells.