Cecille "Coe" Riley

Cecille “Coe” Ellen Riley, better known as COE, was an amazing Wife, Mother, Mother-in-law, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister and Friend.  She was born in Sayre, Oklahoma on March 17, 1937, to Jim and Bonnie Fairless.  She was the oldest of 6 children (Coe, Phillis, James Daniel, Jimmy, Robert & Everett) where they lived a humble but incredible childhood in her rural hometown of Sayre, Oklahoma.  When she was 22 years old, Coe was working for a bank in Amarillo, Texas, when she met her soulmate Jesse Austin Riley.  Six weeks later, they married each other on September 5, 1959 in Sayre, with Coe’s family around them.

Coe and Jess immediately moved to Southern, California where they settled and built their family and network of lifetime friendships.  Three years later in 1962, Coe and Jess welcomed Gregory Michael Riley, who was their only child and thereafter would be the center of Coe’s universe.  Greg fondly recalls his Mom telling him she listened to rock and roll music while she was pregnant with him.  This lead to endless memories of the two of them singing Elvis Presley songs while driving in the car together.

Coe and Greg joined Jess in becoming members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when Greg was 10 years old.   Coe loved the gospel and devoted years volunteering in the Relief Society and the Family History Center of the LDS Church where she again met and developed lifelong friends and people she considered family.

Coe worked for LA County School District for the West Valley School for disabled children for 27 years.  She loved working with kids and devoted her life to serving the interests others.

Coe also worked as a travel agent for several years enabling her to travel all over the world with her family and friends.

Coe had three “OG” grandchildren, Jeremy, Heather & Samantha and two “bonus” grandchildren, Ashton & Tenny, all of whom she loved and adored.  She spent endless amounts of time with Jeremy, Heather & Samantha in their early childhood, creating priceless memories including, Legoland, Disneyland, travel adventures, days at the pool and ensuring that they knew she was devoted to them unconditionally.  Later in life, Ashton and Tennison were welcomed into the family as her grandchildren.  All the grandchildren recall fun holidays and trips to Grandma Coe’s which always concluded with them all having a suitcase of freshly washed clothes, and any food or snacks she had remaining in her kitchen.

When Coe retired, her and Jess moved full time to live at their home in Palm Desert, California, which was her own little paradise.  Coe volunteered at the McCullum Theater in Palm Desert for over 10 years, which gave her a great deal of joy.  But most weekends you would find Coe glued to the TV watching football, basketball, tennis or any other competitive sports.  She was a diehard Oklahoma University Fan.

Coe fiercely loved her family and friends developed over her lifetime, stretching all over the country and especially in Oklahoma, California, Idaho to Utah.  Her infectious and energetic spirit made a positive lasting impact on all those she met.  She was a bright shining light in all our lives.  She was kind, beautiful, vibrant, smart, hardworking & an overall classy lady.  She leaves a huge void in our lives, but all of our wonderful memories of her will hopefully carry us through this difficult time.

Coe passed away peacefully on January 16, 2022 surrounded by her family and puppies, Scout & Daisy.  Coe is survived by:  her loving husband, Jess Riley; her son, Greg (Stacey) Riley, her grandchildren, Jeremy, Heather & Samantha (Nate Merli) Riley, and Ashton & Tennison Schmidt; her siblings Phillis (Leonard – children Sheila & Sherrie) Kubiak, Robert (Browyn – children Leslie & Chad) Fairless and Everett (Janet – children Peggy Ann, Shannon & Benjamin) Fairless.

Coe is predeceased by her parents: Jim and Bonnie Fairless and her two brothers, James Daniel and Jimmy Wayne Fairless.

"It's not how much you have that makes people look up to you, it's who you are."  -Elvis Presley

Funeral services will be held, Saturday, Jan 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m. MST at the LDS Chapel located, 6890 S Whitmore Way, Cottonwood Heights Utah. A viewing will be held prior to service from 10:00-10:45 a.m. the church. Funeral service will be broadcast on Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4560572208

Interment Mountain View Memorial Estates.  Funeral services provided by Cannon Mortuary

In lieu of flowers,  please donate to: 1- any special education program in her name; or
2- donate money, items or volunteer in Coe Riley’s name at the:  Salt Lake Rescue Mission Women’s Center https://rescuesaltlake.org/rescue-mission-womens-center/