Leon Russell Reiley, 89 of Perkins, OK. was born on Dec. 8, 1921 and passed from this life Tuesday, August 9th at home after a brief illness.
He was born in Mannford, Oklahoma to Olin and Florence Hooper Reiley, the oldest of 6 children. At an early age the family moved south of Lone Chimney, Oklahoma where he attended the Sagerville School. The family later moved to the Dunkin Bridge area north of Cushing and Leon graduated from Ripley High School with the class of 1939.
He worked as a laborer building the present Cushing airport, as a service station attendant for Leonard Cochran on W. Main Street in Cushing, as a sharecropper east of Yale, and cleaning tank cars before going into business for himself.
He and Esther Munday were married in 1941. They were married 23 years and had two children, Janice and Richard (Rick). They opened Reiley’s Grocery and Service Station in April of 1946 and in the mid 1970’s a muffler shop/garage were added.
He married Joyce Neal in 1967. She passed away in 2004 after a lengthy illness.
At the time of his death he had been married to Pat Hudgins McLaughlin since 2006. They have lived in Perkins the last four years.
A long time member of the First Church of God serving as an usher, board member, and faithful supporter of the congregation in many capacities.
After retirement he raised cattle on family farm south of Cushing. He enjoyed auctions, visiting friends in hospital and nursing homes and enjoyed gardening, fishing and working in the yard.
He was preceded in death by his parents, younger brother Robert Reiley, and grandson Darren.
He is survived by his wife Pat of the home, stepdaughter Kay White of San Antonio, Texas, Janice Raney and her husband Darrell, son Rick Reiley and his companion, D’Jeanne Duncan of Cushing, grandson Justin Raney and his wife Amy, great granddaughter Hannah Raney, granddaughter Michelle, all of Oklahoma City, granddaughter Shannon Cromartie serving in the US Army in Iraq, and great- granddaughter Raven Cromartie of Houston Texas.
He is also survived by sisters, Doris King of Oregon, Donna McLaughlin and husband Gordon of Sand Springs, OK, Shirley Gilder and husband James of Cedaredge, Colorado, and a brother Stanley Reiley and his wife Dee Ann of Ottumwa, Iowa. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 6:00 P.M. in the First Church of God with Pastor Kevin Clouse officiating.
You may share your condolences with the Reiley family at www.davisfh.net.
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home.
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