Margie 'Drusilla' Riley
Margie "Drusilla" Parks Riley, 93, of Allen, Texas, passed away March 26, 2021. She was born October 4, 1927, in Seminole, Oklahoma, to John Adair Parks and Johnnie "Zander" Cowen Parks. Drusilla was a twin and one of the youngest of twelve children.
Drusilla Parks married Earl Wayne Riley on July 31, 1943, in San Francisco, California. They had two children. She was widowed in 1988. On January 13, 1992, she married the love of her life, Harvey Lee Riley, in Gentry, Arkansas, who preceded her in death on October 20, 1997.
At the age of ten, Drusilla became responsible for all the domestic household chores for her father and siblings. She and her first husband owned and operated Riley's Corner Service Station in Springtown, Arkansas, for 34 years. Upon his death, she moved to Gentry and worked at Decatur Discount in the apparel industry. She retired in 1992 after marrying Harvey and remained in Gentry until moving to Allen in 2008 with her daughter and son-in-law to live closer to extended family.
Drusilla was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Allen. Prior to moving to Texas, she was a long-time and very active member of the United Methodist Church in Springtown, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School. After moving from Springtown, she became a member of the First Baptist Church of Gentry. Her family remembers her as their greatest example of a faithful Christian woman. She loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with all her heart. Drusilla was not only a great role model, but a true prayer warrior, and she read her Bible daily without fail. Her favorite Bible verses were Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Drusilla sang alto and performed on many occasions including church services, weddings and funerals with both her daughter and with the quartet at the Springtown church. Without doubt, her family felt the love and pride she always had for all of them. She will always be known for the "best fried chicken on the planet," along with her homemade rolls, pumpkin pies, and strawberry cakes made from scratch, even though she was highly allergic to strawberries. Some of Drusilla's favorite things were her Blue Willow dishes, old western movies, Roy Rogers, and the Sons of the Pioneers.
Drusilla is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Earlane and Jimmy Hendrix of Allen, Texas, and her son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Margie Riley of Mountain Home, Idaho; four grandchildren, Terry Riley II and wife Kim of Tehachapi, California, Jilane Carper and husband Keith of Allen, Texas, John Riley of Grand Prairie, Texas, and Jennifer Riley of Abilene, Texas; eight great-grandchildren, Jacob Riley, Ashley Grubbs, Kameryn Carper, Sarah Al-Shoufi, Kaleb Carper, Timothy Riley, Megan Grubbs and Emma Riley; sister Vollie Grant of Eureka, California; brother Norman Parks of Coweta, Oklahoma; step-daughter Deloma Blaker; step-sons Don Riley and Larry Riley; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Drusilla was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; sisters Lena Thompson, Bertha Williams, Ruth Juanita Parks, Elizabeth Golleher and Lennis Fields; and brothers James Parks, Johnnie Parks, Eugene Parks and her twin, Martin Parks.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church in Gentry on Saturday, April 3, 2021, at 2:00 pm.
Visitation with the family will be held at the church prior to services at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow the service at Decatur Cemetery. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.wassonfuneralhome.com.
PAID OBITUARY