JoAnne Riley

1943 - 2023

JoAnne Riley
July 4, 1943 - June 24, 2023
West Richland, Washington - JoAnne Riley went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on June 24th, 2023. She was 79. She was born on July 4th, 1943, in San Diego, California to parents Charles Beatty and Ada Price. Born to a father who was in the Navy, much of her early childhood was lived in communities in southern California including Monterey. Her senior school years brought her to the Tri-Cities where she graduated from Columbia High School in 1961. She loved to dance and never missed Friday night dances at her school.
After graduation, she married Walter G. Burks where together they co-owned and operated Texaco service stations in Pasco and Richland, Washington. Together, they had four children: Teresa, twins: Tammy and Tonia, and son Wally. As family to the larger Burk's brother's family in the Tri-Cities, much time was spent in larger family gatherings (e.g. barbeques) throughout the year including the holidays and summer outings to O'Sullivan Dam (the Potholes Reservoir) and Scooteney Reservoir.
Her marriage to Walter eventually ended in divorce and as a single woman, she worked as a medical transcriptionist for two family practice doctors in Richland, Washington. She met Robert (Bob) Riley, a Battelle scientist in August 1984 and in October 1985, they married and took residence in West Richland, Washington. Formerly married, Bob brought to their marriage a son James and daughter, Erin. Together, they celebrated Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays with her children and grandchildren both in their home and away.
Early in their marriage, she worked as the office manager for Three Rivers Rehabilitation Center. She subsequently became Sales Auditor for the new Costco that opened up in Kennewick, Washington. In 1987. A highly responsible position, she assured that the books balanced at the end of each day on the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars of transactions that occurred at the facility. She retired from the position at Costco after 17 years of service in November 2000.
As a Southern Baptist, she was active in her local church, teaching Children's Sunday school for many years and participating in summer vacation bible school.
During her retirement years, she accompanied her husband often on trips touring major cities in the East and Southern United States. They visited Arlington National Cemetery where they saw the tomb of the Unknown Solider and the grave of her favorite western movie actor, Audie Murphey. Other travels included boat cruises to the Caribbean, Alaska, and through Panama Canal, stays at the Royal Playa Del Carmen, Mexico and RV travels throughout the western United States and winters in Arizona. Many of these travels and winters in Arizona included their very personal friends, Bill and Bobbi Messmer. In later years, wintering in Arizona were at homes in Apache Junction and Gold Canyon. Not to forget, a cabin in the Blue Mountains which JoAnne and Bob shared with members of their church. A favorite pastime of hers was shopping for clothes and accessories during travel and at home and cruising in her 1979 T-Top Camaro Z-28 during the summer.
She is proceeded in death by her parents, sister Linda Babcock of Buckeye, Arizona, brother James (Butch) Robertson of Goodyear, Arizona, brother Richard Robertson of Richland, Washington, and Dennis Beatty of Salt Lake City, Utah. She is survived by her husband, Bob, her children and stepchildren, 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, and her sister Loretta Fogel of Richland, Washington.
There will be a memorial service for JoAnne at Einan's at Sunset Gardens, 9215 Bypass Highway, Richland, Washington on July 5th, 2023 at 11:00 am with a reception to follow.