Eileen B (Riley) Hedges

Eileen B. Riley Hedges, 96, of West Terre Haute went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 20, 2020. She was born June 14, 1923 in East St. Louis to James Leroy Riley and Faye Rosalyn Holston Riley.  Growing up in East St. Louis, she spent much time with her loving grandmother, Holston, who instilled a strong value system. She enjoyed spending her summers with her Aunt Frankie in Elbridge, Illinois. Going from the city to the country during the depression was like going to another world, a world of plenty, the ability to have fresh air and food during such a difficult period in time, where others in the city has so little; she was blessed beyond measure.  During summers in Elbridge, she met the love of her life, Robert A. Hedges Sr. and they were married October 5, 1941, in Patton Church. She had a passion for arts and crafts where she was skilled in china and tole painting. Eileen owned and operated a small arts and crafts shop on East Poplar Street in Terre Haute.  She was a beautician by trade and ran a beauty shop out of the basement of her home for several years. She and Robert Sr. loved gardening and together built a spectacular garden full of daffodils, peonies, and blooming spring trees. She was an excellent baker, and every pie she made was delicious.   Every holiday the family could not wait to eat her delicious noodles.  She loved to travel, and even was able to drive a boat when she was 94 years old. She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert A. Hedges Sr., brothers; Dennis Riley, and Chester Romaine Riley, sister, Deloris “Sissy” Kearns and her husband Tom, grandsons; Eric Hedges, and Robert C. “Bobby” Hedges, her mother and father in law, Lewis and Bonnie Hedges, sisters in law Mildred Rockwell, Maxine Royer, and Donna Runyon, brother in law, Rev. Lewis Conrad “Junior” Hedges, and son in law, Jon Griffin.

She is survived by sons; Robert A. Hedges Jr. and his wife Barbara, and Darrell Hedges, daughters; Janet Ray and her husband Charles, and Melissa Griffin, grandchildren; Jeffery Hedges and his wife Lisa, Stacey Cornwell and her husband Jeff, Eli Hedges, Kyley Hedges, Casandra Kendall, Justin Abrell and his wife Nina, Cody Huffman and her husband Jason, Jordan Abrell and his wife Amber, Dru Griffin and his wife Erin, Erin Beeler and her husband Rich, Cameron Griffin and his wife Krista, with 23 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

Services for Eileen are scheduled for Monday January 27, 2020 at 12 o’clock p.m. CST in Patton Church, 21775 Clark Road, Dennison, Illinois 62423  Visitation is scheduled from 10 am CST until service time on Monday.  Burial will be in Dunlap Cemetery. A reception will follow the burial, in the Patton Church School House, next door to the church.  Online condolences can be made at www.greinerfuneralhome.com

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