Ella Mae Briley

Ella Mae Briley passed away on August 6, 2025, at the age of 92. She was born on June 14, 1933, in Portland, Oregon, to Alta and Wilbur Sprague. Ella was raised in Rainier, Oregon, and attended an all-girls high school.

She spent four decades working at Blue Bell Potato Chip Company, where she also met her future husband, Billie Briley. They were married on January 28, 1966, and shared many years together until Billie’s passing in 2016.

Ella was known for her beautiful smile and infectious laugh. She had a gentle, loving spirit and was often described as kind, wonderful, and truly lovely to be around. She enjoyed walking along the shore and spending time window shopping in the shops near the coast.

She is survived by her son, Lonnie Johnson, and her daughter, Alta Calderwood. She also leaves behind three grandchildren: Lonnie Johnson Jr., Mark Calderwood, and Allen Warner; and six great-grandchildren: Daisy, A.J., Autumn, Jacob, Blake, and Jackson.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at Lincoln Memorial Park and Funeral Home. Ella will be laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery.

Her memory lives on in the smiles she shared and the kindness she offered throughout her life.