Leara B. Jiles

Leara met and married Kermit Porter. To this union, Herbert Porter was born.

Her parents moved the family to Houston, Tx in the 1940’s and they joined Miles Chapel Church.

Later, she met and married Riley Jiles, II. To this union, Gloria and Riley Jiles, III. were born.

Leara loved Miles Chapel Church. In addition to being a faithful Stewardess for 81 years, she served as the Queen of Miles Chapel, an awesome Class Leader, a member of the Great Senior Choir and anytime dinner was served at the church, she would bring a pot of her delicious cabbage.

She took great pride in raising money for the church. If she didn’t raise the designated quota, she would always make up the difference and more.

Leara has had many jobs to take care of her family. She worked at Princess Hamburgers and made the best hamburgers. She worked in the lingerie department at Joske’s, now Dillards, the first woman to work on the waterfront and the last job was being a cashier at Hobby Airport. To this day, her former co-workers continue to call, visit, and attend special events in her life after 40 years of her retiring.

During her life, she has received many awards. She received top fundraising honors from Miles Chapel Church and was honored for being a “Strong Woman of Faith Moving Forward” on October 14, 2018. She was the oldest member of the church and the mother of the church.

The Houston Airport System presented her with an official Proclamation for her meritorious Service to the City of Houston but also to recognize her for being a living example of tenaciousness and kindness and proclaimed December 8, 2003 as Leara B. Jiles Day.

Reading was a great passion of hers. She would always read and look for articles and jokes to share with the family. Leara enjoyed going to Harbach Ripley Senior Citizens’ activities until her health declined and loved walking and exercising with her friends.

Leara transitioned this life on March 11, 2021 at 5:01a.m. She was preceded in life by her parents, Pinkie and Carrie Barnes, her husbands, (Kermit Porter and Riley Jiles, II.), long-time companion, Carnell Haynes, Sr., one brother Pinkie Barnes, II. and his wife Ester Mae, two sisters, Izetta Barnes Smith and Hattie Barnes.

Left to cherish her precious memories are: one daughter, Gloria Jiles, two sons, Herbert Porter (Patricia), and Riley Jiles, III., twelve grandchildren, Toni Miller, Chalanda Derrick (Ernest), Kimyatta Kelly (Lee), Kim Dixon (the late Donahue), Denise Miller, Jabaric Jackson, Riley J. Webb, Carrie Williams, J. J. Dale, Adrian Sipsey, Daryl Simpson, and Konkheis Sipsey (Christall), 30 great-grandchildren, 23 great-great- grandchildren, a loving and supportive niece, Nettie Roach and nephew, Gary Smith, play sons, Larry Frances, Marcus Holmes, L.A. Jones, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, friends, and loving, supportive Hobby Airport co-workers.