Obituaries: Richard Miller Briley, 1939, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: April 6, 1939 Winn Parish Enterprise

Last Rites For R. M. Briley Are Held Sunday

Succumbs At His Home Near Montgomery April 1st

Richard Miller Briley, a prominent citizen of Grant Parish, and a former
resident of Winnfield, died at his home near Montgomery, Saturday night.  He
had been ill for four weeks.

Funeral services were held at the Saline Cemetery near St. Maurice, Sunday
afternoon at 4 o'clock, the Rev. J. A. Jones of Wheeling officiating, assisted
by Rev. Kitchingham of Hargis.  Burial was under the direction of Edmonds
Funeral Home.  Pallbearers were Dick Vogel, Clarence Teagle, Penn Luther, Carl
McIlwain, Woodrow Philips, and Vesca Shaw.

Mr. Briley was a native of Kentucky.  He was born in the small community of
Glennfork in Russell County, May 1, 1861.  His parents kept the local post
office at the time of his birth.  Both his father and mother died when he was
a very young child.  He was reared by an uncle and aunt until he finished high
school.  His uncle wanted him to study law, but he had other ideas in mind. 
He left home at the age of eighteen and visited most all the places of
interest in the United States and some foreign countries.  He spent a greater
portion of his time in what was then the "Wild and Wooly" West.

He came to Louisiana, working at Lake Charles for several months.  In March,
1890, he came to Winn Parish near St. Maurice to Guice's Sawmill.  While 
working at this place, he married Miss Winnie Teagle on November 15, 1891.  To
this union, eight children were born, four of whom preceded him in death.  In
1901, Mr. Briley moved to Winnfield where he lived for a number of years,
working as a contractor.  Quite a number of buildings in this place were built
under his supervision.  He organized the N. F. L. A. in this parish and served
as secretary and treasurer for a number of years.

Mr. Briley is survived by his wife, Mrs. Winifred Teagle Briley of Montgomery;
three daughters, Mrs. Penn Luther of Camp Allen; Mrs. Odes Fletcher of
Detroit, Michigan; and Mrs. Jake Wheat of Houston, Texas; one son, Richard
Briley III of Detroit, Michigan; and seven grandchildren: Opal, Wayne, and
Love Luther; Mary Jo Briley; Harold Fletcher, Bevil Ann Wheat, and Gaylord
Briley.