Mary Lou Riley Straughan

Mary Lou Riley Straughan died peacefully on Monday, August 8th. Funeral services for family will be held at the Riley Funeral Home in Hamilton, TX at 5:00 on Sunday, August 14th. An open celebration of Mary Lou’s life is scheduled for Friday, November 25th in Hamilton, TX.

Mary Lou was born and raised in Hamilton, Texas, a community that remained close to her heart throughout her life. She later married Herbert “Hub” Straughan of Coleman, Texas, ultimately settling in Houston and raising two children. Mary Lou was active in the community, serving as a Sunday school teacher at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church and volunteering in a variety of roles supporting various activities in which her children were involved. Most recently, she lived at The Conservatory at Plano, where she developed many dear friends over the last several years. She enjoyed gardening, reading, and most of all, following the exploits of her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband, Hub Straughan, parents, Bob and Kate Riley, sisters Joyce Porter and Nora Fields, and brothers-in-law Kenneth Gardner, George Porter and John Fields. She is survived by her daughter Suzi Joyner and husband Steve (of Dallas, TX); son Rob Straughan and wife Leslie (of Lexington, VA); grandchildren Katy Joyner, Luke Joyner, Matthew Straughan, and Kevin Straughan; and siblings Ida Sue Gardner (of Hamilton, TX), Jack Riley and wife Edna (of Temple, TX), and Martha Henkes and husband Melvin (of Hamilton, TX).

Mary Lou asked that we offer a special thank you to Baylor Plano Hospital for the compassionate care that they provided throughout her illness. She referred to her many doctors and nurses as “my angels.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to the First United Methodist Church of Hamilton, TX and asks those close to Mary Lou to consider donating blood platelets through your local Red Cross to support those in need.