Myrtle Louise "Gus" Wiley, Richland, Washington, died at the age of 79 on June 1, 2011 in The Regional Hospital for Respiratory Care in Tukwila, Washington. She was born to Dr. Charles W. Smith and Mrs. Myrtle C. Wilson Smith in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on November 3, 1931.

Gus moved to Richland in 1965 when her late husband, Dr. William R. Wiley accepted a research scientist position with Battelle Memorial Institute at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. She was an elementary school teacher beginning in 1954 in Mississippi and continuing in Pullman and Richland, Washington. She taught at Marcus Whitman and Tapteal Elementary Schools and retired in 1987.

Gus earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi and she earned a Masters of Art Degree from Washington State University in Pullman. While at Tougaloo College, she met and married William R. Wiley, who later became the Director of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington. From that union was born one daughter, Johari M. C. Wiley. Gus ran track at Tougaloo where she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and was a member from 1952 to 2011. Gus was a big sports fan and an avid golfer. She loved gardening and was a gracious host and enjoyed preparing Southern style meals for her family and guests. Gus loved cats and owned many of them throughout her lifetime with the latest being Charlie and Rocky. She was active in many local community organizations and worked many years on the March of Dimes Gourmet Gala Fund Raising Committee. She served on the Kadlec Foundation and The Hanford Reach Boards. She was a founding member of the Tri-Cities Chapter of The Links, Inc., serving from 1981 to 2011.

Gus was a lover of people, and she had many friends locally and throughout the country. She touched many lives and cherished the moments spent with them. She always was delighted every time she would run into one of her former students who remembered her.

She is survived by her daughter, Johari Wiley, of Richland; a grandson, Jovian Schaeffer, of Central Islip, NY; a brother, Grover Carolyn Smith, of Hattiesburg, MS; a sister-in-law, Inez Edgar Smith, of Jackson, MS; a brother-in-law, Herbert Wiley, Oxford, MS; and a host of nephews, nieces, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. & Mrs. Charles W. Smith, her late husband, Dr. William R. Wiley, a brother, Charles Smith, and her twin sister, Sara Neptune.

The family would like to say thanks to the doctors and nurses at Kennewick General Hospital, and the nursing staff at The Regional Hospital for Respiratory Care in Tukwila for the excellent care they provided to Gus.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at Memories at Sunset Event Center, at Einan's Funeral Home, 915 By-pass Highway, Richland, WA. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that you make a donation to the Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation, P. O. Box 5371, Seattle, WA 98145.