Viola Mabel Reilly

Feb. 26, 1918 - July 17, 2008

GREYBULL, Wyo. - Viola Mabel Reilly, 90 years old, passed away peacefully Thursday, July 17, 2008, at the home of her daughter in Sandy, Utah.

She was born Feb. 26, 1918, to Harry V. and Edith Simmons Peterson at Emblem. She had a happy childhood living on the farm. She was a member of the 4-H Club and learned many skills that benefited her family later in life. She attended elementary school in Emblem. Later, she and her siblings attended high school in Greybull, where she was a member of the first graduation class of the newly built Greybull High School. After high school, she worked for Feusner's Creamery.

She married Hugh William Reilly, May 24, 1941. She supported him as he served in WWII. They spent the rest of their lives with their family living at the same location in Greybull. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving in the Relief Society and Sunday School. The Emblem Garden Club was an important part of her early married life, and she was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Her greatest joy was her family. They enjoyed spending holidays and celebrations with extended family and camping in the Big Horn Mountains. She also had a special spot in her heart for the children that she tended for decades. She treated them as her own and many lives were influenced by her loving care. She was beloved and adored by her grandchildren. They all felt spoiled when visiting "grandma." She will be greatly missed by all, but will always be remembered with fondness and appreciation.

She is survived by one sister, Emma McNiven of Burlington; five children, Edith Jo (Rich) Weeks of Sandy, Dennis (Sharon) Reilly of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Barbara (Mike) Wirtzberger of Greybull, James (Linda) Reilly of Cody and Steven (Peggy) Reilly of Albuquerque, N.M.; 20 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; three brothers, Clyde Peterson, Harry Peterson, Jay Peterson; and one sister, Madeline Oleson.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 25, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (temporarily located at 3575 Greybull River Road). The family will visit with friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Atwood Family Funeral Home, 620 Greybull Ave. in Greybull, on Thursday, July 24, and from 10 to 10:45 a.m., prior to the services at the church. Burial will follow at Donald J. Ruhl Memorial Cemetery in Greybull.

A memorial fund has been set up through Big Horn Federal Savings Bank, PO Box 471, Greybull, WY 82426 for the local American Legion Chapter that will be directed to the Girls' State program.

Atwood Family Funeral Directors, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.