3/29/1962 – 12/4/2025
Lawrence
Leslie Denise Rials, “Lisa” took her seat in Heaven on Thursday December 4th, 2025 after a sudden and unexpected illness. Lisa was 63 years old. She was proud that she was born in Jackson, Mississippi on March 29th, 1962 to AB and Mary Rials.
Lisa loved her family and there are so many precious memories. She was always the life of the party. Her laugh filled the room. She was always ready for the next dance party, bowling event, board game, dice game, or card games like spoons, donkey, and spades. At every family dinner, you’re likely to hear “Anyone wanna play 15,000?” as she shook the dice in the air.
She loved gospel music, playing the tambourine, singing, and served as a Church Choir Director for several years. She loved serving the Lord.
Lisa was known for her fried chicken that seemed to heal the soul, and there was never a question of who would bake the cakes for the family dinner.
She was the loving Aunt Lisa who cooked and shopped for her nieces and nephews, and wanted to attend and celebrate every event. She was mothering and caring, including helping to raise one of her nieces from an early age through elementary school.
Over the years, she was the lead unofficial cheerleader for her Nephew’s baseball team, the Cardinals and could be heard across the field with a signature call, “whoop whoop!”
She loved to fish. Fishing with her family at the Clinton Marina and going out on her brother’s boats brought her joy. Her excitement when she caught a big catfish or crappie was unmatched, and could be heard across the lake.
Lisa loved her friends and was a proud member of the LHS Class of 1980 and enjoyed attending class reunions. She attended Emporia State University where she met lifelong friends and carried memories that she often reflected on with her family. She was very sentimental and held on to many cards, pictures, and other symbols of good friendships throughout her life.
She was an Office Support Assistant at LMH Health and recently received her Ten Year pin. She was on the original committee for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, the IDE Leadership Committee, was a member of the Health Equity Advancement Team, and she served with a “keeping it real” action-driven spirit.
Lisa leaves to cherish her memory and carry her legacy, her mother, Mary Rials, Siblings, Johnnie Mae Rials, Loretta Rials, AB Rials, Jr., Lea Bruce, Linnell Rials (Sheila), Julitha Rials, Rita Rials, Clark Rials, Sr. (Tonya), and Nicole Rials. An abundance of Nieces and Nephews, Great-Nieces and Nephews, extended family members and many close friends who are family.
Lisa was preceded in death by her father, AB Rials, Sr., her brothers Micheal Wayne Rials, and Jeremiah Rials; and her sister Louise Rials.
Funeral Services for Lisa are set for Saturday December 13, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Community Church; A Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 12, 2025 also at Christ Community Church. A live stream link will be available on the Warren McElwain website.
Lisa was a proud supporter of the non-profit organization, LRM Foundation. She was essential to promoting LRM Foundation Theatre productions by inviting others to come to the plays, and support the efforts. She attended every production, front and center.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial contributions to the LRM Foundation Fund of the Douglas County Community Foundation, 900 Massachusetts, Suite 406, Lawrence, KS 66044 https://dccfoundation.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=3574. Donations can also be made online at https://lrmlawrence.com/donate/ or sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary; 120 W 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044
Note: We are offering Lawrence and Douglas County community members space to publish remembrances of loved ones who lived in this community, free of charge. These pieces are submitted by family and friends of the deceased and not written by our staff.
We are glad to be able to offer this service free to community members in mourning. We believe the last thing our neighbors need in those difficult moments is another financial matter to worry about. Please consider a paid subscription to the Times to help us continue providing this service and news access for all.
To submit an obituary to The Lawrence Times, please fill out the form at this link. We’re sorry, but we cannot accept obituary submissions via email or other means.
If you are interested in sponsoring obituaries on our site through advertising, please email us at ads (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com.
Read other obituaries here.
