Gereline Riley Clifton Dieball, mostly known as "Geri" to her friends and lovingly known as "Granny" to her many grandchildren and great grandchildren, passed away peacefully at East Morgan County Hospital in Brush, Colorado on March 14, 2026 surrounded by loved ones.  Granny was a beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, soon-to-be Great-Great Grandmother, Aunt and Great Aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Geri was born in the tiny town of Lowell, North Carolina in Gaston County on January 11, 1936 to Ellen Andora and William Mack Riley.  Her childhood revolved around her family of 5 brothers, church and school.  She was active in her Church's Girls Auxiliary Group where she earned the Queen of the Scepter Honor and sang in the Church Choir.  She held a part time job as a teen-ager at the local dime store.

She married Luther Levern Clifton at her beloved Baptist Church in Lowell on June 6, 1954 and they settled in Red Springs, NC where they both worked at the local textile mill.  They soon moved to Raeford, NC where they lived and raised three daughters until subsequent moves to Virginia and then to Raleigh, NC for Levern's career.

Geri was a self-taught entrepreneur and learned how to cater and decorate specialty cakes through a mail-in correspondence course.  For many years, she provided personal, beautiful, sometimes humorous, birthday cakes, anniversary cakes, and multi-tiered wedding cakes.  She held many part time jobs to help provide for the family while catering on the weekends.

Geri had a very creative spirit and made many beautiful outfits for herself and her daughters. She crocheted many warm, beautiful afghans.  She enjoyed gardening and took pride in her colorful spring flowers.

After Levern's passing in 1982, life took Geri to Georgia where she met and married Vince Dieball.  They shared many happy years together, traveling and entertaining, until Vince's death in 2001.

Geri was most generous with her time and friendship.  She volunteered to drive senior citizens to church and appointments, made hot meals for those in need, offered comfort and loving care to friends and family who were hurting.

More than anything, Granny loved her family! She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She sported a snappy Santa suit one Christmas to the delight of us all! She kept us laughing as she enjoyed wearing her snazzy pink cowboy hat while enjoying a nice glass of wine and her favorite cookies.  As long as she was able, she would sit on the floor to be with the little ones – coloring, playing games, and just being with them.

Geri was cherished just as she cherished others and we will all miss her terribly.  As we celebrate her 90 years on this Earth, we do so with tears in our eyes because we loved her so much.  She was such a fun and loving part of our lives.  We love you so much, Granny!

Granny is survived by a loving, large and growing family.

Daughters:

Donna Ray Pickett (Ted) of Merino, Colorado

Karen "Kay" Lynn Clifton Krause (Bill) of Raleigh, North Carolina

Teresa Clifton Palmer (Robert) of Suwanee, Georgia

Stepsons:

Dana Dieball of Lithonia, Georgia

Daryl Dieball of Columbia, South Carolina

Grandchildren:

Jillian Lineberger (Dusty) of Atwood, Colorado

Melissa Lineberger (Rob) of Arvada, Colorado

Marie Salter (Lee) of Bunn, North Carolina

Adam Krause (Alena) of Rolesville, North Carolina

Wendy Palmer of Suwanee, Georgia

Phoebe Palmer of Atlanta, Georgia

Cameron Palmer of Buford, Georgia

Step Grandchildren:

Clinton Dieball of Jefferson, Georgia

Ian Dieball and Kane Dieball of Maxeys, Georgia

Bart Dieball of Colorado Springs, Colorado

Great Grandchildren:

Jericho Carr and Rowan Carr of Atwood, Colorado

Sunny Grace Bertanzetti of Arvada, Colorado

Casey Salter (Cody) of Spring Hope, North Carolina

Christopher Salter (Julia) of Bunn, North Carolina

Ashley Salter (Shane) of Oxford, North Carolina

Camden Krause and Emme Krause of Rolesville, NC

Ellie Palmer and John Palmer of Suwanee, Georgia

Great-Great Grandchildren:

Emersyn Scott Williams, soon to be born to Ashley Salter and Shane Williams.

Geri was preceded in death by her parents, Andora and Mack Riley, brothers Paul Riley, Reid Riley, Joe Riley, Wayne Riley, and Bob Riley.  And by her husbands, Luther Levern Clifton, Vincent Dieball.