Riley Kristine Lewis

Riley Kristine Lewis, 30, joined her sister in heaven March 29, 2020, in Yuma, Arizona, after succumbing to injuries occurred during an automobile accident. She was born February 8, 1990, in Hamilton, Montana.

Riley’s passion from the first time she could walk was horses. She received her first pair of boots at the age of 3 and a half years old, and lived in them, wearing them every day until they no longer fit. As the youngest of four children, Riley was packed around by her older sister Erica, who was basically her second mother. Riley attended school in Darby through the third grade until her family moved to Stevensville, where she attended both Corvallis and Hamilton. Her sports were barrel racing and spending as much time as possible with horses. She traveled around the Pacific Northwest competing with her mother, Elaine, in barrel racing, on their horses, Okie and Cowboy. She also loved reading, drawing and doing artistic projects. 

Riley and her first love, Ben Leavell, were inseparable for over 10 years. This love brought their son, Colin Lewis (12), into this world. From that moment, her son became Riley’s main focus. She stayed at home and cared for Colin, while utilizing any spare time she could come across to continue her passion in training horses. She was proud to have Colin continue in her footsteps while riding Okie and that he found success in winning at many local events. She engulfed herself in the kitchen where she found joy in baking for anyone who would eat her own creations of love formed into cakes, cookies and other treats.

In her past few years, she would spend many hours at her Grandma Gus’, exercising horses and enjoying the view of the Bitterroot Mountains while sitting at the picnic table with her family.

Riley’s heart was always with her family, but like the mustangs of old she could not be tamed or tied down. She traveled all over the United States in her last few years, from California to Florida and everywhere in between. She has come to her final resting place at the Riverside Cemetery, where she will be with her sister Erica.

Riley is survived by her son Colin Lewis, parents Wade Lewis, and Elaine Lewis (Stoney Neufang), all of Victor , MT; her brothers Joseph Lewis, Michael and Angela Lewis and her nieces Adrienne and Charlotte, all of Jacksonville, Florida. Riley also left behind many other loving grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held, Monday, April 13, 2020, at 2:30 p.m. at the Riverside Cemetery in Hamilton. Visitation will be at Daly Leach Funeral Home from 12 noon to 2 p.m. The funeral home will allow 10 visitors to be in the chapel at a time. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made to a college fund set up for Colin Lewis at US Bank, 1265 N. First St., Hamilton, MT.