Olivia Denning Riley, 78, of Hereford, Texas, passed away, on Monday, September 2, 2024, in Hereford, surrounded by her loving family. A Memorial Celebration of Life Service will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 10:00 A.M.  in the Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Ernest Rodriguez officiating.  Arrangements and Cremation Services have been entrusted to Mendez and Mullins Family Funeral Home of Hereford.

Olivia was born on January 14, 1946, in Hale Center, to Jesse and Margie (Jaramillo) Chavez. She attended High School in Hale Center, Texas. Olivia worked as a dispatcher for the Plainview Police Department and the Hale County Sheriff's Department, and then as a Librarian at the Unger Memorial Library in Plainview where she met her husband Robert B. Denning. Olivia married Robert on January 2, 1971, in Plainview and moved to Hereford in 1976. Olivia and Robert shared many memories and adventures with their girls until his passing in 1994. She married Les Riley on July 4, 2004, in Hereford.

Olivia was passionate about volunteering and was head of the Candy Striper program in Lubbock at St. Mary's Hospital and the Methodist Hospital. She served as the President of the Hereford Chamber of Commerce Ladies Division, served many hours in PTA, started the Pink Ladies, Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, in Hereford, and was instrumental in building the gift shop at the old Deaf Smith County Hospital. She enjoyed bowling with the Herford Ladies Bowling League and helping Terry at her Tanning Salon, The Comfort Zone.  She also enjoyed working in her immaculate yard, gardening, flowers, and home projects. Olivia was the Rock of her family, the ultimate caregiver, and the best Memaw to her grandchildren. She was family-oriented and loved spending time with her family and talking to her cousins. Olivia was caring, giving, independent, would speak her mind, and had a good sense of humor.

Those left to cherish her memories are daughters, Terry Hazlett and her husband Murray and Michele Denning both of Hereford; grandchildren, Sam Hazlett, Rob Hazlett, Taylor Hazlett, and RJ Riley; and great-grandchildren, Addy Ramirez and Katy Ramirez.

She is preceded in death by her parents Jesse and Margie Chavez, husband Robert Denning, husband Les Riley, and grandson John Ryan Hazlett.

We would like to thank the HRMC, Hereford EMS Family, and Lifestar Flight Service for their loving care and support during her illness. Thank you to Samaritan Hospice and Janie Cardena for their excellent compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in honor of Olivia to the Hereford Hospital Ladies Auxillary, "pink ladies", 540 W. 15th St. Hereford, Texas 79045; or a charity of your choice.