Constance "Connie" Roderick

Constance “Connie” Roderick, 93, died December 29, 2025. She was born March 25, 1932, in Sullivan, Missouri, to John and Mollie Wallick. She was a 1950 graduate of Sullivan High School. In high school, she played volleyball and basketball. After graduation, Connie married Edward Norman Riley. When he graduated from the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine in 1960, her uncle, Frank Wallick, of Cotter, encouraged them to move to Mountain Home for the opportunities in the area for them and their family of 4 little girls. And so they did. Ed established his veterinary practice, and they built a house designed by Connie, where their family became complete with 5 little girls. Their home now serves as the Schliemann Women’s Center. After 19 years as a stay-at-home mom, Connie became a nurse and worked at Baxter Hospital. Connie was active in the community. She was involved in founding the first kindergarten, raising money for some of the first playground equipment at Hickory Park, and taking children Christmas shopping as a member of Club Cosmopolitan and Jaycettes. She served as a remarkable Girl Scout Leader and Hospital Volunteer. She was on a bowling league for over 50 years and traveled to numerous national tournaments. Connie never missed a class reunion, and it was at the 25th reunion when she connected with Robert “Bob” Roderick. He was finishing a United States Air Force career in Germany. For 5 years, they wrote letters to one another with Connie visiting the summer of ’76 to travel Europe. In 1981, Bob called from the bus station in Little Rock, and they were together for 37 years until his death in 2018. She and Bob adventured to all fifty states and across Canada, national parks, presidential libraries and homes, civil war sites and everything in between, hauling their camper in tow. They were always up for providing respite for parents and going to be with grandchildren. Connie was the family Canasta expert, collected rocks for her beautiful gardens, took pride in creative Christmas wrapping, and was a scrapbooker before scrapbooking.

Connie was preceded in death by her parents; and beloved, Bob.

She is survived by daughters, Joan Young, Janet Cathey, Jean (Pat) Hurst, Suzanne Riley, and Jill Holman; grandchildren, Dean Young, Daffney Young, Amanda (Curtis) Reinhart, John Noell, Eddie (Kelli) Noell, Michael Cathey, Libby Cathey, Kathryn (Jed) Snyder, Riley Holman, and Isaac Holman; and great-grandchildren, Katie Young, William Noell, Odette Noell, Blair Chandler, and Matthew Chandler.

Visitation will be Saturday, January 3, 2026, 9:00 am, at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel. A Funeral Service for Connie will begin10:00 am, Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Kirby & Family Funeral Home Chapel, with Norman "JR" Martin officiating. Burial will be in the Kirby's Tucker Memorial Cemetery, Mountain Home, AR.

Memorials may be made to the Schliemann Center for Women's Health of Baxter Health.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com.