84, Oblong, IL.
Eleanor Louise Riker, 84, Oblong, IL passed away on Friday November 11, 2016 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL.
A CELEBRATION OF ELEANOR’S LIFE will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday November 16, 2016 at the Pulliam Funeral Home in Oblong, IL. Burial will follow in the Oblong Cemetery.
VISITATION WILL BE held from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at Pulliam Funeral Home in Oblong, IL.
The family request that an expression of sympathy may take the form of a contribution to either the Robinson Elks Christmas Baskets, which Eleanor supported for many years or the Oblong Fire Department’s Christmas for Kids. Envelopes will be at or ma be mailed to Pulliam Funeral Home P.O. Box 121 Oblong, IL 62449.
Eleanor was born in Crawford County, IL on December 15, 1931. She was the daughter of Rex Verner Smith and Irene Beatrice (Reynolds) Smith. On October 8, 1950 she married Keith A. “Tuffy” Riker who preceded her in death on April 23, 1999.
Eleanor was a Homemaker and for many years ran the State Farm Insurance office that Tuffy had in Oblong, IL. Eleanor was member of the Robinson High School Class of 1949; Homecoming Queen in 1948; Member of the Central United Methodist Church where she served as treasurer for many years and a member of the Oblong 20th Century Club. Eleanor enjoyed doing water aerobics for many years at L.T.C; doing ceramics; reading; walking; she was a great seamstress making many of each of her daughter’s clothes, and traveling around the world. Eleanor loved her family, especially her pets Bruno and Zoey who she fondly called her “babies”.
Eleanor is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Dave and Jan Riker of Robinson, IL; two daughters Marcia Lawhead and Margo Riker both of Oblong, IL; four grandchildren Kara and Scott Roberts of Robinson, IL, Amber Riker and her fiancé Bailey Leonard IV of Robinson, IL, A.J. and Amy Lawhead of Plano, TX and Brady Lawhead of Chicago, IL: four great-grandchildren Willow Lynn Roberts and Weston Roberts of Robinson, IL; Alexa Marie Leonard and James Bailey Leonard V both of Robinson, IL; two brothers and a sister-in-law Larry Smith of Mattoon, IL and Garry and Mary Smith of Rantoul, IL; sisters-in-law Wanda Smith of Robinson, IL, Pat Smith of Litchfield, MI, Mary Tracy of Bridgeport, IL, Norma Riker of Brownwood, TX, brothers-in-law, Max Riker of Robinson, IL, Cecil and Lavina Riker of Huntley, IL, Charles “Chuck” Ruddell of Robinson, IL; several nieces and nephews and special friend Anne Schalasky.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two grandsons Mitchell Keith Lawhead and Alex James Lawhead; a great-granddaughter Emma Lynn O’Neal; two brothers Marvin Smith and Don Smith and a son-in-law Doug Lawhead; mother-in-law, Lou Ella Riker, sisters-in-law, Cora Ruddell, Vera Thompson and Rita Riker, brothers-in-law Roy Tracy, Ed Thompson.
Condolences and or memories may be sent to the family at www.oblongfuneralhome.com
