Sandra Lee Riley, also known as Sandi, passed away on October 20, 2023, at the age of 81 in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born in Oklahoma in 1942 to Charles and Mabel Bevis. Sandi traveled extensively as a child due to her father’s military service. She carried this love of travel throughout her life.
Sandi is survived by her son, Shawn Riley, daughter-in-law, Laine Riley, and her granddaughters, Morgan Larrison and Jordan Riley. Sandi is survived by her daughter, Deborah Hulsey, and grandsons Alexander, Evan, Cian, and Soren Hulsey. In addition, Sandi is survived by her brother, Larry Bevis. as well as many friends who will also miss her strength, wit, and compassion. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 56 years, Dr. Ron Riley, her parents, and her brother, John Bevis.
Sandi had a commitment to community service and dedicated much of her time to volunteer work. She actively participated in various organizations, including Girl Scouts, Salvation Army, Daughters of the American Revolution, Red Hats, Women’s Education Scholarship Fund, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Sandi was also an active member of Country Club Christian Church, where she and Ron enjoyed their Sunday School Class for many years.
In her spare time, Sandi enjoyed pursuing her hobbies. She was an avid painter, seamstress, and baker. Sandi loved westerns, especially John Wayne movies and the show Yellowstone. Sandi’s love of history was passed down through the generations and her knowledge was extensive. She is loved by many and will be missed by all.
Private family graveside services will be held in the U. S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Rinehart Fund (Undergraduate endodontics) at UMKC – School of Dentistry and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at
cheneywitt.com.
