Verna Mae (Selman) Riley

Verna Mae (Selman) Riley, better known as BeBe, age 87 of Madisonville, Texas passed away on July 10, 2025. She was born December 19, 1937 in Crockett, Texas to John Lester Selman and Vilna Hollis. Verna grew up in Austonio, Texas where she graduated high school. In 1957 she moved to Wilmer, Texas alongside two friends, and began working at Collins Radio, assembling radios. She met Harold Dean Riley, they were married on March 6, 1959 and soon after welcomed their beloved daughter Cheryl. Verna wore many hats over the years, from working on rebuilding starters, alternators, and water pumps, after she joined the team at Continental Electronics. In 1982, she was elected to the Wilmer City Council, proudly serving her community until 1996. She had a passion for local politics and a commitment to public service. She was a woman of many talents: an excellent cook, a skilled quilter, and a master of all things handmade. Whether she was knitting a blanket or baking something from scratch, she poured love into everything she created. Verna was known for her straightforward nature, quirky humor, and goofiness that endeared her to all who knew her. Her family was the center of her world, she loved hosting weekend gatherings and cherished any opportunity to have everyone around her table. She found joy in road trips to visit her sisters and treasured time spent at the lakeside cabin on Caddo Lake. True to form, she never liked having her photo taken, preferring to stay behind the scenes, where she quietly made everything and everyone around her feel loved and taken care of. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is preceded in death by her husband Harold Dean Riley; parents: John and Vilna Selman; bro Elmer and wife Marie Selman; sis Jewel and husband William West and sis Nelda and husband Jody Crawford.

She survived by daughter Cheryl Riley of Madisonville, Texas; three grandchildren: Lynn and Blaire Winstead, Deena Alford and husband Tony and Zachary and wife Alex Alford; four great-grandchildren: Kobie, Syphira, Conner and Xander; two great-great-grandchildren: Denver and Evangeline; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family members and dear friends.

Visitation 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Saturday, July 19, 2025 Green Funeral Home -Ferris. Texas.

Graveside Service 11:00 AM Sunday, July 20, 2025 Trinity Cemetery -Wilmer, Texas.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Verna Mae (Selman) Riley, please visit our floral store.