Sharon Dunn Riley

September 2, 1944 - December 8, 2025

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Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home

3800 N. Big Spring St

Midland, Texas 79705

Friday 12/12, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel

Saturday 12/13, 2:00 pm

Resthaven Memorial Park - Midland

The Branch at NPW

3800 N. Big Spring St

Midland, Texas 79705

Saturday 12/13, 3:00 pm

Sharon Dunn Riley, 81, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 8, 2025 in Fort Worth, TX surrounded by family. Sharon was born to Walker Aaron Dunn and Mona Heidelberg Dunn in Big Spring, TX on September 2, 1944. She graduated from Austin High School in Austin, TX in 1962 and married her high school sweetheart, Homer F. Riley, Jr. (“Butch”) in August 1963. She attended the Austin Secretarial School and worked for a law firm to support the family while Butch attended the University of Texas at Austin.

Living in Austin until Butch’s retirement from Tracor/BAE Systems, Sharon and Butch raised one daughter, Michele. Sharon volunteered frequently in Michele’s schools, was an active member and Sunday school teacher at Koenig Lane Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and participated in leadership roles in the Bluebonnet Area Disciples Women’s Ministries. She also enjoyed recreational bowling leagues and volunteering in the community. In the 1990s, she took great joy in the birth of her grandchildren, Pearce and Annie Edwards, whom she showered with love and support for the rest of her life.

Sharon had a lifelong love of traveling which she especially enjoyed after Butch’s retirement. Always planning her next trip, her adventures included travels to Europe, Asia, Australia, Central America, and, most recently, a trans-Canadian railroad trip with Michele. In her later years she resided in Albuquerque, NM before eventually returning to her beloved home state of Texas in summer 2025.

She is survived by her brother, Walker Aaron Dunn, Jr. (Pat); her daughter Michele Edwards (Carter); grandchildren Pearce Edwards (Kathryn) and Annie Edwards; found family Rana Chan (Colton); great-grandchildren Caroline Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards; and numerous relations in West Texas of whom she had an encyclopedic knowledge. She was preceded in death by Butch, husband of 56 years, and her parents.

In honor of her love of cats, donations in her memory are welcome to the Midland Humane Coalition (https://www.midlandhumane.org/donate.html).

A visitation will be held at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home (3800 N Big Spring St, Midland, TX 79705) on Friday, December 12 from 5-7 PM. The funeral service will be held at Nalley-Pickle & Welch on Saturday, December 13 at 2 PM.

Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home

3800 N. Big Spring St

Midland, Texas 79705

Map

Friday 12/12, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel

Saturday 12/13, 2:00 pm

Resthaven Memorial Park - Midland

The Branch at NPW

3800 N. Big Spring St

Midland, Texas 79705

Map

Saturday 12/13, 3:00 pm

See Condolences

We are thinking of you and sending you lots of love from Germany. With loving memories of MySharon,

With love from Eileen and Cheryl Dunn

In loving memory of Sharon who always had a smile.

We are thinking of you with loving memories of Sharon!

A memorial tree was planted in memory of Sharon Riley . Plant a Tree

I am so sorry to hear about Sharon’s passing. My sincere condolences to Michelle and all the family. I regret never getting to take that river cruise (any river, any continent!) with her that we talked about the last few years. Our friendship lasted many years and thru several states - I was glad she was back “home” and wish both our healths would have enabled us to have one more visit. She leaves a hole in many hearts. Rest in peace, my friend. We will meet again on the other side❤️

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

Through the years I shared so many amazing moments with Sharon. Specifically, our relationship grew during my young teenage years. Sharon and Mona would pick me up from the old Austin Airport, enroute to lunch, and then a week of basketball camp at The University of Texas. Sharon is my second cousin: however, I have always thought of her as my Aunt. She was wonderful at keeping up, as I could always count on an email or a sweet e-card. After Butch passed, Sharon sent me a few UT items, which meant so much. I will always cherish my special conversations with Sharon, and especially her knowledge of the Dunn family. She will be deeply missed. Love, Cheryl

I've only met Sharon in person four times. We became dear friends. I grieve with her family and friends over her passing. She was a devout christian who will receive her reward. I will miss our frequent correspondence via email.

Thinking of you and sending our love.

White Designer's Choice was purchased for the family of Sharon Riley by Jordan and Peggy Reeve. Send Flowers

Wishing you peace to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead and loving memories to forever hold in your hearts.

Peaceful Condolences was purchased for the family of Sharon Riley by The King and Henry families. Send Flowers

We so loved Sharon, and will miss her dearly.All love and all blessing be upon you all.

Grandma's Garden was purchased for the family of Sharon Riley by Monty Northrup & Julie Bowman (Austin, TX). Send Flowers

My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Dear Michele and family, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I worked with your Mom for many years in the Education department of Koenig Lane Christian Church. May you find comfort and peace knowing she had a strong faith and is now at rest.

Sharon was a good person. She had a big heart. I realized recently that I could not think of a single time when she was ever angry about something. During the last few years we exchanged emails talking about what was happening in our lives. She was a good friend to me. She was a positive person, even during the last couple of months when her health started failing her. She never felt sad about her health problems and was always thankful for the family and friends who supported her. Here is a part of her response when I asked her how she coped with what she was facing: “ I take it day by day….know in the back of my mind it is extremely serious and my days might be numbered…lots more lab work, maybe transfusions…BUT I am blessed that I found someone to come with me to my appointments and help me with my cats….when I had to go to the ER at the last moment, I called Flo and asked her to come and feed the boys and clean their litter boxes. When I was able to come home that night, I emailed her and said I was home and she didn’t need to come in the morning….that was a blessing.” Rest in peace, Sharon. I’m going to miss you.

We had the pleasure of meeting Sharon a few years back in NM. She was delightfully full of life and extremely welcoming to us. We truly regret that our paths crossed but once. There is no doubt that her story will continue to be told to us through lovely Rana and Colton, whom she meant the world to. Our deepest condolences to her amazing family and loved ones.

Our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to Sharon's wonderful family.

Yellow Designer's Choice was purchased for the family of Sharon Riley by With love, The Paul Family. Send Flowers

A tree was also planted in memory of Sharon Riley

Sharon was the fun aunt who always had something special planned whenever I visited. She and my Nana took Michele and me on the best, most unforgettable trips — truly some of my favorite memories. I can honestly say there was never a dull moment when we were together. She was so positive, always smiling, and her voice was loud, warm, and captivating. You couldn’t help but listen when she spoke. She was larger than life, and it breaks my heart that she’s gone. I will always hold onto the good times we shared and the joy she brought into our lives. She will be so deeply missed.

I loved my Aunt Sharon; she will be truly missed. I have great memories of spending summers in Austin, playing in the backyard where the big wooden beams felt like I was in a fortress. If it weren't for her and my grandmother, I would never have been able to go on all the amazing trips through the years—going to the Spurs stadium and being in the locker room, visiting the Texas Capitol, feeding peanuts to squirrels, and taking a tour of NASA—there were so many more. She really shaped how I grew up. You will be greatly missed. Love you, Aaron.

My deepest sympathy in the loss of dear Sharon. She was a dear friend during the brief time she resided in Baton Rouge always smiling and ready for the nest adventure. Yvonne Bahry Caballero

My condolences to the family, she was incredibly loved

Purple Designer's Choice was purchased for the family of Sharon Riley by - Mai and the kids. Send Flowers

A tree was also planted in memory of Sharon Riley

Today is a day filled with love, celebration, and new beginnings. I would like to take a moment to honor someone who held a very special place in my heart. She may have started as my customer, but she became so much more than that. She became a friend, a confidant, and a light in my life. Her kindness wasn’t something she had to try for, it flowed naturally from her. Every visit, every conversation, every story she shared left me smiling, thinking, or laughing. Her stories could pull you in and keep you there, like you were standing inside the memory with her. She cared so much for my children, always paying attention to their milestones, always celebrating them with genuine joy. She showered them with love in the ways only someone with a truly generous heart can. And I will forever be grateful for the way she poured love into me and into my family. Losing her has left an ache that words can’t fully capture. But even in her absence, her spirit remains in the kindness she showed, the joy she brought, and the memories we carry with us. Today, as we celebrate love, commitment, and family, I want to honor her presence in our lives and the love she shared with us so freely. She will always be close to my heart, and I know she would be smiling today, sharing in this moment with us. May her memory continue to be a blessing, and may we carry forward the same kindness and warmth she gave so generously.

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

I am so sad to hear about the passing of My Sharon. To me, she always felt like an extra grandmother; someone I could talk to and someone who would always be there. I will always remember how loving, spirited, and warmhearted she was to me and to all. I will miss her so much. I've donated some money to Midland Humane Coalition in hopes that her memory lives on through the animals she loved.

I send my deepest condolences. I remember last year when my husband and I went to New Orleans and we took a day to see Sharon in May of 2024. We had lunch together. We went to Baton Rouge to see her.

In loving memory of Sharon- a cherished friend and neighbor who brightened our days. May your heart and soul find peace and comfort during this time.

Sunny Memories was purchased for the family of Sharon Riley by Ben and Megan (Johnson) Westra. Send Flowers

A tree was also planted in memory of Sharon Riley

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.