Vera "Lavern" Riley

Vera “Lavern” Riley, 90, of Amarillo, passed away on December 11, 2020 with her son and daughter by her side. Graveside services will be 2:00 PM Thursday December 17, 2020 at Llano Cemetery. Lavern was born on July 19, 1930 in Murray, Kentucky to Ewing and Mabel Donelson. She graduated from Arapaho High School in Oklahoma. As a young girl Lavern was a cheerleader and played basketball; she loved sports especially football and basketball. She was an avid reader and enjoyed good mystery novels. Lavern also enjoyed quilting. She spent much of her time working outdoors in her yard and garden. Lavern loved to cook and could make high quality cinnamon rolls. She was close to her family, especially her grandchildren; they were her greatest joy. Prayer was very important to Lavern and she always prayed for her family. She lived a long and fulfilling life and she will be missed. Lavern was preceded in death by her husband, James Riley; parents, step-mother, Mary Donelson; three brothers, Bud, Raymond and Audy Donelson; one sister, Kay Donelson; one daughter-in-law, Jacque Riley. Survivors include one son, Mike Riley; one daughter, Bettie Warlick; one sister, Nova Adams, all of Amarillo; four grandchildren, Vance Riley of Wenatchee, Washington, Angela Lawrence of Amarillo, Justin Warlick of Seattle Washington and James Warlick and his wife Diana of Dallas; three great grandchildren, Hallie, Ethan and Peyton.