Erma Jean Dorrell Riley, 94, of Colmesneil, passed away Monday, January 22, 2024 at Pelican Bay Assisted Living Center in Beaumont, Texas.
She was born November 20, 1929 to Samuel Bronson and Lillie Marion “Mae” Flowers in Colmesneil, Texas. She graduated from Colmesneil High School in 1947 and went to work for the telephone company as an operator in Colmesneil, and later in Woodville, Texas. It was in Woodville where she met and married her husband of 57 years, Tommy Dorrell. Jean and Tommy moved to Orange, Texas, where they worked and raised their three children. Jean worked several places while in Orange, but most of her years were spent working as a bookkeeper for Levingston Shipbuilding Company, where she worked for 26 years. She and Tommy later retired and moved back to Colmesneil, where she spent many years growing vegetable gardens and flowers of all kinds, particularly daylilies. She was known to many in Tyler County as the “Daylily Lady”. After Tommy died in 2006, Jean married C.J. Riley of Colmesneil in 2008 and they remained married until his death a few years later.
Jean loved God and her church. She taught Sunday School for many years at First Baptist Church in Orange. Later in Colmesneil, she enjoyed singing in the church choir and even occasionally leading the music on Sunday mornings.
Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Bronson and Mae Flowers; husbands, Tommy Dorrell and C.J. Riley; siblings, Audrey Mae Babin, Nelson “Pete” Flowers, and Annell Mott; and son, James V. Dorrell.
She is survived by her daughter, Tommye Jean Johnson and husband Paul of Orange; son, George Dorrell and wife Teresa of Plano, TX; daughter-in-law, Maria Dorrell of Industry, TX; sister, Oddie Lee Cox of McAlester, OK; grandchildren, Seth Johnson and wife Erika, Beau Dorrell, Adam Johnson and wife Jodi, Nicholas Dorrell and wife Erin; and great granddaughter, Rose.
Graveside services will be held 11 am Saturday, January 27, 2024 at Bethany Cemetery in Colmesneil. Officiating will be Brother Fred Sherrod.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Shiloh Baptist Church, 114 CR 2310, Woodville, TX 75979 or Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief, 5351 Catron Dr, Dallas, TX 75227.
Services are under the direction of Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home in Woodville, Texas.
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