Mariolee Sterling

Mariolee Sterling, 99, of Hemphill passed away peacefully unto her Lord and Savior on July 27, 2025.

Born in Verda, Louisiana to Horace and Effie Hale, she lived in Baytown for many years.  Mariolee was a devout Christian woman who would tell everyone she met about her faith in God.  People came to her for her wisdom and wanted her to pray for them, and she would gladly honor their request.  She kept scriptures for any situation in the cover of her bible so they would be handy when asked for advice.  Her bible was her sword, and she used it to conquer all things.  She attended church every time the doors were opened.  When she lived in Baytown and didn’t have a ride to church, she would walk half a mile to arrive and be the first one there. 

Mariolee loved her family greatly, especially her grandchildren.  She loved the color red and enjoyed watching the red birds.  She also loved to fish and would count everyone she caught no matter the size.  She loved and enjoyed every minute spent with family.  She would tell each of them to love God first, accept him into their heart, and love their family second.  She would tell her family that friends will come in and out of your lives, but family will always stay until the day you pass. 

Mariolee was preceded in death by her father, Horace Hale; mother, Effie Irby Hale; husband, Iverson Alvah Stering; son, Horace Sterling and his wife, Norma Sterling; daughter, Linda Riley and her husband, Bill Riley; brothers, Lori Hale and  Huey Hale; sisters, Bea Hale, Violet Dean, Virgil Alexander, and LaVerne Drewett; and a granddaughter, April McClelland.

She is survived by her loving daughter and son-in-law, Regenia and John Wahl of Milam; eight grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, nineteen great-great-grandchildren, and a host of other family members and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the Riley Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Irby McKnight officiating.  Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Town Bluff, Texas.  Visitation will be held on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Serving as pallbearers will be David Cours, Wesley Wahl, Anthony Riley, Daniel Riley, Justin West, and Robert Sterling

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