Mary Frances Daniell Riley
A long-time resident of Big Spring, Mary Frances Riley, 87, died Feb. 21 in Joplin, MO where she had lived with Karen and Marianne Burleson, daughter and granddaughter of Fran. A celebration of life service will be held in Big Spring this summer. Born Oct. 2, 1930 in Beaumont, TX, her youth years were spent in Houston where she graduated from Lamar High School and the University of Houston. She was the head dietitian for the Southern Pacific Hospital in Houston and married Dr. William A. Riley.
Dr. Riley was an arthritic specialist and practiced medicine in Big Spring, TX for25 years. They were members of First Baptist Church of Big Spring. Dr. Riley passed away in 1991. After living in the Carillon, an independent living center in Lubbock, TX for several years, Fran (as she was affectionately called) moved to Joplin to be near her loved ones.
She is survived by her son, Jon Riley of Springfield, IL; and four daughters: Rhonda Susan Fiot of Houston, TX; Lisa Riley Muncy and her husband Jim Muncy of Peoria, IL; Roanne Riley DeSonier and her husband David DeSonier of Joplin, MO; and Karen Burleson of Joplin, MO; a brother, David Daniell and his wife, Lorna, of Mobile, AL; and 13 grandchildren: Sara Riley and Jon Riley, Jr. of Springfield, IL; Marc Daniell Fiot of College Station, TX; Joshua DeSonier of Bentonville, Arkansas; Michael DeSonier of Washington, D.C.; Christie Hager of Fort Worth; Alonzo Muncy of Valdosta, Georgia; Alice Muncy of Atlanta; Allen Muncy of Raleigh, North Carolina; Alaina Muncy of Nashville; Marianne Burleson of Joplin; Frances Burleson of Joplin; James Allen Burleson of Joplin. She is also survived by 9 great grandchildren.
Fran was born with a paralyzed left side due to the disease Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) but overcame this handicap to rear five children and live a relatively normal and active life. Fran on occasion would remind friends “They said I never could ride a bike or drive a car—and I did!”