Thomazene “Tommy” Ruth Riley died Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at The Living Center in Marshall, Missouri, at the age of 88.

A private memorial graveside service will be held in Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall. Memorials are suggested to The Living Center, in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall. Friends may sign the online register book at www.campbell-lewis.com.

Thomazene was born in Marshall, Missouri, on August 23, 1933, the daughter of John Calvin Finley and Ruby (Cole) Finley. Her father died when she was an infant, and she was raised by her mother and her stepfather, Earl VanBuskirk. On October 29, 1949, she married Martin Wayne Crawford in Marshall. They later divorced, and on February 21, 1953, she married J.G. “Jay” Riley. He preceded her in death on April 28, 1989. Thomazene was a life-long resident of Saline County. She attended school in Napton and Marshall. Tommy worked as an admissions counselor at Missouri Valley College and later as the secretary at First United Methodist Church in Marshall.

She is survived by her son, Earl Wayne Crawford (Marilyn) of Excelsior Springs; two grandchildren, Caleb Crawford (Tara) and Kathryn Berger (Caleb), both of Lawson, Missouri; and six great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, James C. Finley; a half-sister, Eugenia (Sampson) Ross; and an infant grandson, Aaron Crawford.