Gerald Parker Riley, age 79, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his loving family, April 29, 2025. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday morning, May 3rd, at First Christian Church. Visitation will be held from 6-7 p.m., Friday evening at Smith Funeral Home.

Gerald was born on December 19, 1945, in Quanah, TX to J.W. & Jewel Riley. He was raised in a close-knit family and carried his values of kindness, hard-working & faith throughout his life.

In 1965 Gerald married his high school sweetheart Sandra Gayle Mathis. Together they shared 32 wonderful years of marriage and raised one son, James Beno Riley.

Sandra passed away in 1997 and Gerald carried her memory with him always.

On August 16, 2003, Gerald married LaDonna Taylor Garza. They loved each other and shared wonderful years together filled with family, church, friends, fun trips together; and evenings spent together cooking and watching tv.

Gerald was a proud veteran and served in the US Army during 1966-1968. He had several military buddies that he held their memory and friendship close to his heart.

Gerald was a devoted member of the First Christian Church all his life. There he served since 1978 as a deacon and then elder, and Sunday school teacher. He was honored to have worshiped and attended with five generations of his family in the church. His parents, son and wife, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Gerald was a man of many talents. He was a butcher and in the grocery business, a skilled carpenter and operated a construction company. He owned Quanah Oil Company, where his son and wife, and their children manage and operate the business. Also, him and his son farmed and managed cattle together. He loved Hardeman County and called it home. He was an enthusiastic hunter and loved to fish at the creek. His favorite past time was when he was with his son or any of his grandchildren hunting and fishing.

Gerald believed that everything belonged to the Lord and he was always very generous with whatever he had to give. He was a strong spiritual example, hard worker, and his commonsense approach to problem solving in all aspects of his life.

He is survived by loving family, wife LaDonna Riley, son James Beno Riley, daughter in law Christie, grandchildren Tara, Kyle, James, Luke and Mark Dodson, Tana, Travis and Clyde Garrett.

Gerald was also cherished and loved by LaDonna's children and grandchildren, Joshua Garza, Briana, Ayden, and Henley, Fran and Matthew Stidham, Aubrey, Andrew, and Ashlyn, Evan and Fara Garza, Michael and Tristen.

He was Preceded in death by his parents; Sandra; his brother, Othel James Riley, and baby brother, Elmer Dewayne Riley.

In lieu of flowers, donation gifts can be given to the Helping Hands Fund at First Christian Church of Quanah.