Obituaries

Dorothy Riley

September 13, 1937 - August 22, 2022

Our mother, Dorothy Newport Riley of Winter Haven passed away to heaven on August 22, 2022, at the age of 84 surrounded by family. She was a wonderful, funny, loving mother to daughters, Stacy Stoops (Ronnie Stoops, spouse), Terri Thacker, Lori Rudd (Jamie Rudd, spouse), and her son, Casey Riley (Katherine Riley, spouse). “Big Granny” was grandmother to 8 grandchildren; Melissa Whitfield (Jason Whitfield, spouse), Chris Connell (Natasha Connell, spouse), Jeremy Riley (Kristina Riley, spouse), Jonathan Stoops (Alyssa Stoops, spouse), Amie Cornn (Dillon Cornn, spouse), Sheena Alexander (Chanse Alexander, spouse), David Rudd (Rachel Rudd, spouse), and Daniel Stoops. In addition Dorothy had 13  great grandchildren whom she loved immensely; Shyanne Daniell, Kayleb Whitfield, Nicholas Whitfield, Adin Whitfield, Arianna Connell, David Connell, Taygan Williams, Lexi Williams, Olivia Stoops,  Bristol Cornn, Paxton Cornn, Beau Rudd and Jamie Rudd III.

Dorothy Riley was preceded in death by her husband E. David Riley, her father and mother, Roy and Mayme Newport, her sisters and brothers and their spouses; Verna Marchman (Joe Marchman, spouse), Cliff Newport (Betty Newport, spouse), Raymond Newport (Alvina Newport, spouse), and Iris Pitts (Pete Pitts, spouse).

Dorothy Riley was born in Bartow, Florida where she attended schools graduating from Summerlin Institute. While living in Bartow Dorothy met E. David Riley and they married on August of 1957. Dorothy had four children and our mother’s greatest accomplishment in her own terms was being our mother and grandmother/great grandmother. She could teach, discipline, console, and care all in the most real and loving way. 

A memorial service for Dorothy will be hosted on September 13, 10:30 a.m. First Alliance Church, 1919 E. Edgewood Drive, Lakeland Florida, 33803.