Loving, funny, intelligent, loyal — a star
Rilee Ann Starkey was a beautiful soul who brought light and laughter to everyone she loved, despite the darkness that often surrounded her.
When Rilee was 11, her mother passed away after a years-long battle with breast cancer. At 16, she became a single mother. A true “daddy’s girl,” she lost her father to cancer on her 23rd birthday. Despite — or perhaps because of — the challenges she faced, Rilee loved to make people laugh. “Rilee was HILARIOUS,” her cousin Lynsie said. “She was so good at making people laugh, you would walk away with your sides hurting.” Her work in the world seemed to be offering humor, love, support, and encouragement to people seeking better lives.
Her family bonds and friendships ran deep. She looked up to and had a close bond with her older brothers, Justin and Mike. Her lifelong friends — Bobby, Tina, and AJ — were incredibly important to her and never gave up on Rilee. The absolute light of her life was her daughter, Caelynn, now 21. “I have never seen a mother and daughter as close as they were,” Lynsie said. “Caelynn is still her #1 fan.” Through treatment, years of sobriety, and even prison, Caelynn was Rilee’s reason and inspiration to keep pushing, despite her disease. “Caelynn will never stop advocating for her mother,” Lynsie said. “She is seeking a degree in criminal justice and will do amazing things while carrying her mother’s memory.”
Rilee and Lynsie were more like sisters than cousins. Rilee made Lynsie feel safe and loved. “Almost all of my childhood memories involve her,” Lynsie said. “She walked me to and from school almost every day and made sure I was safe — she was the best big sister. There were times when I felt I had no one else, and Rilee was right there with open arms.”
Second only to spending time with friends, family, and Caelynn, Rilee adored shopping — especially for shoes. A favorite tradition was the annual “school shopping” trip she, Lynsie, and Rilee’s Aunt Jodie took together. Even as adults, Rilee insisted on keeping the ritual alive, using it as an excuse for a day of fun and time with family.
Rilee lived with addiction for over twenty years, but she never stopped fighting. When sober, she loved to chat and be around family. When the disease was running the show, she made herself scarce — the bills would pile up, and the family would receive messages of concern from those who saw her. During her periods of sobriety, she found deep purpose in helping others through recovery, attending meetings, and supporting anyone trying to find their way out of the darkness. Her strength and compassion touched many lives.
Family members were impacted by Rilee’s addiction in different ways over the years. It was an education in the reality of substance use and addiction. “Rilee fought so hard for so long,” Lynsie said. “She deserved so much more out of life. I miss her laugh, our weird and goofy jokes, our music, the way she could always make me feel seen, and her advice — even if I didn’t take it. She’ll always be my sister, and it shatters my heart that she won’t be at my wedding.”
Rilee’s cousin, Lynsie Eckert, provided the information for this narrative.
May 27, 1987–July 29, 2024-Age 37
Portrait Artist: Shawn Faust
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
