Evelyn Kirksey Riely

Evelyn K. Riely, 82, of Austin, peacefully passed away on February 20, 2004, at the Austin Nursing Center, with her two loving daughters at her side, holding her hands and talking with her as she went to Glory. Evelyn fought a most courageous battle with various ailments of aging, and she simply, and so graciously, joined her dear husband, Arthur, in Heaven. Evelyn was born on September 17, 1921, on a family farm near Zephyr, Texas, outside of Brownwood. As a young girl, she moved with her parents and two sisters to Elgin, Texas, where the family operated a truck far, raising various crops and bringing them to market in Austin. Following graduation from Elgin High School in 1939, Evelyn took a job in an Austin millinery store. A short time later, Evelyn’s cousin in Austin suggested she should meet a young radio engineer/co-worker friend of his, Arthur Riely. Following the cousin’s introduction, Evelyn and Arthur dated for a brief time, and in December, 1940, they were married by a Justice of the Peace in Falfurrias, Texas, as they were enroute to Arthur’s father’s home in the South Texas Valley. The young couple made their first home in Austin. At the time, Arthur was in the National Guard, and following Pearl Harbor, his unit was called up to active duty. Arthur chose to attend OCS training in Red Bank, New Jersey, so Evelyn joined him there until he was commissioned an officer in the U. S. Army. While Arthur was overseas in the Pacific, Evelyn lived with her parents in Elgin and made her “Rosie The Riveter” wartime contribution working in the office at Camp Swift, between Elgin and Bastrop. During the war, in March 1943, Evelyn’s first born, Jimmie Sue, a “wartime leave baby” arrived. Following the war, Evelyn and Arthur returned to Austin, and in October 1946, Alice, their second daughter, was born. The young couple settled in the Oakey Heights-Bluff View section of South Austin, near South Lamar and Barton Springs Road, where they made their home for over 56 years until they moved to an assisted living center in early 2002. Evelyn was employed by the Textbook Division of the Texas Education Agency for over 30 years, where she advanced to a supervisory position before retiring. Evelyn truly was far ahead of her time as one of the original working mothers, who balanced a successful career with a happy and loving family life. She mastered the trials and tribulations of a serious career while managing to run a loving home, where great home cooking, beautiful sewing projects, and fun family gatherings were standard fare. Evelyn will be so warmly remembered for her amazingly loving nature, her limitless generosity, and her sincere kindness that touched everyone she encountered. She so clearly exemplified the true Christian spirit, always helping others and sharing her love and her own blessings with so many family members, friends and even strangers. Evelyn never forgot her humble beginnings, and she was a kind, loving friend to everyone she met, be it a President or a pauper. A member of Kinney Avenue Baptist Church for over 50 years, Evelyn loved her Bible study, and she lived her life according to the Bible’s guidance of love and kindness towards all people. Evelyn so relished time spent with her two daughters----her “angels” as she called them on her very last day. Early on, during the girls’ school years, sewing beautiful dresses for them was her clear labor of love, and she made amazing clothes, ranging from stunning formal evening gowns, to casual school dresses and blouses. Later, “power shopping” with her daughters became her passion, and the girls loved to join in her generous and fun visits to the malls and boutiques. Then, the grandchildren began to take priority, and Evelyn’s tradition of Christmas and birthday “sussie” gifts became a family phenomenon. Simply said, her generosity was unbounded and was exceeded only by her endless love for family. In her retirement years, Evelyn cherished visiting with her many friendly neighbors, and gatherings with the grandchildren, particularly at the family lake house, were the mainstay of her continuing joy and happiness with Arthur. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband of almost 63 years, Arthur J. Riely, her parents, Ruth Vernon Kirksey and John Bryan Kirksey, and two sisters, Marie K. Holmes, of Austin, and Sadie Rae Cortez, of San Antonio. Evelyn is survived by two daughters, Jimmie Sue Francis, and her husband, Richard, and Alice Parrish, and her husband, Jerry, all of Austin; five grandchildren, Riely Francis, of Honolulu, Anne Francis, and her husband, Craig Simmons, of Seattle, Amy Parrish, of Brenham, Graydon Parrish, of Amherst, MA, and Max Parrish, of Philadelphia; and numerous nieces and nephews, and grand nieces and nephews, whom she loved as if they were her own children. The family wishes to express its loving gratitude to the exceptional staff of Austin Nursing Center for their loving, professional care that truly was of such assistance to Evelyn and her family in recent months, to Dr. Steven Dobbefuhl and his staff, and to the attentive, caring staff of Odyssey Hospice who, along with her two daughters, truly made Evelyn’s final days so very peaceful and comfortable. Visitation will be held Saturday, February 28, 2004, from 10-11 a.m. at Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home. Immediately following the visitation, there will be a combined memorial service honoring both Arthur and Evelyn at 11 a.m. at the same location, with graveside interment at Austin Memorial Park, 2800 Hancock Drive. Rev. Gordon Bergstrom will officiate at both services. Pallbearers will be Jerry Parrish, Richard Francis, Riely Francis, Graydon Parrish, Max Parrish and Craig Simmons, with Honorary Pallbearers Amy Parrish, Anne Francis, and Courtney Kelley. Memorial contributions may be made to Kinney Avenue Baptist Church, 1810 Kinney Avenue, Austin 78704