08/10/2026
Darla Riley was born on February 20, 1944, in the small Texas town of Star. She was the second oldest in a farming family of six. After several years farming in Shive, Texas, her father moved their family to Garden City, Texas, to work in the oil fields.
She attended school in Garden City, where she finished high school and graduated in just 3 years. It was there that she met Glenn Joe Riley. They were married on March 14, 1959, when she was just 15 years old.
After both graduated from Texas Tech University – Darla with a Bachelor in Business Administration – they moved to Kennedale, Texas, where they raised and bred horses and Glenn Joe began working at Bell Helicopter. The family later moved to Keller, Texas. During the time their children were in school, Darla was a homemaker. She loved her two boys, Joe and Terry, dearly.
Darla worked for many years in property management and as a business assistant.
After she and Glenn Joe divorced, Darla stayed in Keller until the house burned in a devastating fire. She later settled in Scurry, Texas. In more recent years, she moved to be closer to her sons, Joe and Terry. She lived in Grapevine, Texas, for 9 years. After a short illness Darla died on July 28, 2026. She was 82 years old.
Darla cherished the Lone Star State, Texas Tech, the Dallas Cowboys, and yellow roses.
Family was very, very important to her and it showed in many ways. Birthday celebrations, family vacations, and good meals with loved ones were top priority.
Darla was a lifelong, faithful Methodist with a passion for life. She was a voracious reader, enjoyed playing slots at the casino, and had a terrific sense of humor. She loved dancing, Elvis, and games of all sorts, but most of all Darla loved animals. Horses, dogs, cats, birds, raccoons – they all found a friend with her, except snakes. She hated snakes.
Darla was a Texas country girl, a daughter, a sister, a mother, a grandmother, a wife and a friend, who was loved and will be missed by many.
Darla was preceded in death by her mother and father, Lois and Hershel Williams; sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and Don Plagens; niece, Alisa Plagens and brother-in-law, Steve Young. Darla is survived by brother, Gary Williams; sister, Bobbie Young; son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Daneen Riley; son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Wendy Riley; grandchildren, Maggie Riley, Matt Riley, Bennett Riley, Palmer Riley, Joe and wife Crystal Enyart, Miles Enyart, Emily and husband Roan Oosthuizen; great grandchildren, Lydia, Lucile and Coraline Enyart and PJ, Kat, Nic and Ben Oosthuizen; niece, Shana and husband Matt Lyles; nephew Nathan and wife Leanne Plagens; niece, Jessica and husband Jeremy Purvis; nephew, Brandon and wife Kylie Young; nephew, Brent and wife Donnice Ho**er; niece, Kristen Archa; as well as numerous friends.
Her funeral service will be Saturday, August 15, 2026 at Stacy-Wilkins Chapel in Goldthwaite, Texas. Visitation will be prior to service from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton, Texas.
