Zola Riley

    Zola Katherine (Hinde) Riley died peacefully March 15, 2018, in Haxtun at the age of 96. She had been residing at the Haxtun Extended Care Unit for the last few years.
    Zola was born June 9, 1921, in a farm home southwest of Haxtun to Harold and Katherine (Wilhelmi) Hinde. She was the secondborn of seven children.
    Her older brother, Wayne, was born in Iowa in 1920, but the family moved back to Haxtun before Zola came along. Her other siblings soon followed, which included Elaine, Elsie, Harold “Jim”, William “Bill” and Richard “Dick.”
    Zola grew up on the family farm and attended Sunbeam, a country school 3 miles south of Haxtun, until she was in fifth grade — with the exception of a three-month period when she briefly lived with her grandma Stella Hinde and attended school in Seney, Iowa. The family then moved to a farm southeast of Dailey, where she finished her schooling and graduated from Dailey High School in 1939.
    After graduating from high school, Zola had the desire to attend college, but family finances wouldn’t allow for that at the time. Therefore, she went to work as a housekeeper and companion for a family from Sterling. With this position, she was able to spend time in Allenspark and travel to California. The pay wasn’t all that great, but she did have a lot of interesting experiences. After this job ended, Zola returned to Haxtun to work for her mom and aunt in the restaurant business.
    While working at the restaurant as a waitress, Zola met her future husband, Lorin Riley, who was a truck driver for Scotty’s Produce in Haxtun. After a short courtship, they were married on Feb. 16, 1942, in Ogallala, Nebraska. Zola and Lorin had four children born to this union: Hughie Lee, Larry Wayne, Joyce Lyn and Jeanette Kay.
    Zola remained at home to raise her family until she returned to the workforce in 1959, when she once again worked at a restaurant as a waitress. She worked in this position for six years, then took a job as a clerk at the local drugstore. In the spring of 1974, Zola quit this job to stay at home with her husband, who was suffering from cancer. He passed away in August of 1974.
    Lorin and Zola purchased one of the oldest homes in the Haxtun area, which was built in 1906. It was originally a farmhouse, with a large barn and several other buildings surrounding it. It was known as the Plainview Farm, now located at 130 N. Washington Ave. Zola lived at this residence until 1995, when she sold it and moved to the northwest part of Haxtun to a smaller house.
    In 1977, Zola went into business with her sister and opened the “Home Cafe.” They sold this business in April of 1983, with intentions to retire — celebrating with a trip to Hawaii. Retirement was short-lived, however, because in April 1984, Zola became the executive director of the Housing Authority. She also spent some time traveling during this time of her life — a cruise to Alaska and a trip to Georgia, to name a couple.
    Zola was a member of the Haxtun Church of the Brethren, the Women’s Fellowship and the American Legion Auxiliary, Fred C. Lewman Unit 137. In these organizations, she held multiple offices and served on several committees. She also taught Sunday School for a number of years, worked with the senior citizen program and was a volunteer at the Haxtun Hospital District.
    Zola was an avid quilter and enjoyed crocheting in her later years, making beautiful handmade items for her children and grandchildren. She loved her family dearly and kept up with all their activities on a regular basis. Haxtun was Zola’s beloved hometown; there was no other place she would have rather lived.
    Zola is survived by her children, Hugh and wife Mava Riley of Conroe, Texas, Larry and wife Vida Riley of Longmont, Joyce and husband Dave Fetzer of Haxtun, and Jeanette Williams of Fruita; grandchildren, Dan and wife Christine Fetzer and children Brittany and Kendrick, Anita (Fetzer) and husband Dave Poss and children Dustin, Derrick, Nadalyn, Caleb and Shayan, Damon and wife Sarah Fetzer and children Kaylin, Trinity and Sidney, Trevor and wife Jessica Williams and children Nate, Maggie, Myra and Emma, and Brad and wife Deb Williams and children Spencer, Connor, Sienna and Chase; several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; brothers, Jim and wife Dottie Hinde and Richard and wife Pearl Hinde; sisters-in-law, Marion Hinde and Dixie Riley; aunt, Esther Hinde; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
    She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lorin; brothers, Wayne Hinde and Bill Hinde; and sisters, Elaine Wilderman and Elsie Hinde.
    Visitation was scheduled for Thursday, March 22, 9-11 a.m. at Church of the Brethren in Haxtun.
    Funeral services were scheduled for Thursday, March 22, at 11 a.m. at Haxtun Church of the Brethren, with Pastor Ken Frantz and Pastor Jeri Soens officiating. A private family inurnment will be held at the Haxtun Cemetery at a later date.
    Baucke Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.