Mildred Briley, 103, of Centralia, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 26, 2021, at Centralia Manor.
She was born April 28, 1918, in rural Centralia on her family farm, daughter of Dwight D. Hardy and Clara Ethel (Stonecipher) Hardy. She married Curtis Briley on June 29, 1940, and they celebrated their 76th Wedding Anniversary before Curtis passed on January 22, 2017.
Mildred is survived by several family members and friends.
Mildred was born and raised in rural Centralia on her family farm, where she recently resided. She attended Clay Hill Grade School; it was a one-room country school. In 1936 she graduated from Centralia Township High School. Mildred attended Brown’s Business College in Centralia, which was located upstairs in the Hoffman Clothing Store. Her first job was at K.W.Walters Plumbing, Heating, and Electric Shop as a general office worker.
Mildred was a lifetime attending member of the Gilead Church in rural Centralia. She also served as the Treasurer of the Church for 50 plus years.
Mildred and her husband Curtis enjoyed going fishing and changed to hunting Prairie Dogs for 27 years. They went hunting in West Texas and Colorado. One of the joys Mildred had each year was to plant 20 tomato plants and then sell them along the highway. She sold them through the honor system. Mildred was still planting tomatoes for herself at the age of 99 and was a memory for a lot of people.
A Private Funeral Service for Mildred Briley will be held at a later date with burial to follow at Gilead Cemetery in rural Centralia. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Gilead Cemetery Fund and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, (618)532-3523, who is honored to be of service to the Briley Family. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home Facebook Page.
