Cordelia Fern Philley

Cordelia Fern Philley passed away at her home in Groesbeck on Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at age 74. She was born in Corsicana on July 5, 1940 to Charles Arnold Riggs and Lee Artis Clewis Riggs, and grew up in Houston. Fern was united in marriage with Obie Eugene Philley on October 2, 1958, and they lived in Houston most of their fifty-five years together. They moved from Houston to Buffalo a few years ago, and then moved to Groesbeck in 2010 to be near their daughter and son-in-law. In Groesbeck they enjoyed fixing their house into a really attractive home with yard art displays and decorations made by Obie, for all who passed by to enjoy. Fern was an artist, having begun painting while still in high school. She enjoyed oil painting, as well as sewing. But she especially loved gardening and raising flowers, with a natural green thumb. The family always carried a shovel in the car because she might want to dig up some roadside flowers to give them a new home in her yard. She was a devoted wife and mother to Obie and their three children. Fern is survived by her husband, Obie Philley of Groesbeck; daughter and son-in-law, Nila and Danny R. Wyatt of Groesbeck; son, Obie Philley, Jr. of Conroe; son and daughter-in-law, Neil and Lisa Philley of Conroe; eight grandchildren: Amanda Eberle, Danny Wyatt, Jr., Laura Leopold, David Michael Wyatt, Sabrina Sawyer, Vyka Swanson, Vincent Green, and Obie James Philley. There are also seven great grandchildren: Marshall, Joshua, Amie, Karlie, Daniel, Lillyann, and Sam; as well as her sister, Marilyn Janice Willis of Conroe, and her brother and sister-in-law, Wayland Arnold Riggs and Laurie Riggs of Conroe.