Luther Clements Riley's Obituary
Luther Clements Riley, better known as “RED”, 90, of DeRidder, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026. He was born on December 2, 1935, in Hayes, Virginia, to his beloved parents, the late Luther Thomas Riley and Ruby Belle Hogge Riley.
Luther was a devoted husband, loving father, proud grandfather, faithful friend, and a man whose kindness and humor touched everyone who knew him. For the past 16 years, he shared a beautiful marriage with his wife and best friend, Judy Ann Riley. Together they built a life filled with love, laughter, and unwavering devotion.
He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Judy Ann Riley; his daughters, Jody Bellair, Katy Jo Powell and husband J.C., and Terry Fee; his sons Mickey Viator and wife Cheryl, Joshua Riley Cormier and wife Jennifer; his bonus son, Ronnie Weldon and wife Tammy; his bonus daughters, Tammy and husband Billy Jack, and Pam and husband James. He was a proud grandfather to 10 grandchildren, a cherished great-grandfather to 21 great-grandchildren, and a loving great-great-grandfather to 4 great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his late wife of 49 years, Sue Riley; his daughter, Debra Denton; and his sons, Billy Riley and Tommy Riley.
Luther was known for his quick wit, contagious sense of humor, and the countless jokes he loved to share. He was a humble man with a servant’s heart who found joy in bringing smiles to others. A man of strong faith, he loved the Lord and lived his life with quiet integrity, compassion, and humility.
An enthusiastic supporter of LSU, Luther rarely missed an opportunity to cheer on the Tigers. He also enjoyed keeping up with current events, faithfully watching the news, and testing his knowledge with his favorite game shows, especially Jeopardy! An avid reader, he proudly read every novel written by Louis L’Amour, whose stories of honor and perseverance reflected many of the values Luther admired.
Luther dedicated countless hours to serving his community through the American Legion Post No. 27. He faithfully served as Bingo Chairman for more than 24 years and as Post Commander for over eight years. His leadership and dedication played an important role in helping build the new American Legion building, leaving a lasting legacy that will benefit veterans and the community for generations to come.
Above all, Luther will be remembered for the love he shared with his family, the friendships he cherished, the laughter he brought into every room, and the unwavering faith that guided his life. His legacy of love, service, humor, and devotion will continue to live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know him.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” — Matthew 25:23
The family finds comfort in knowing that while Luther’s earthly journey has ended, the memories he created, the values he instilled, and the love he shared will remain forever in their hearts.
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