Jeanna Riley, PhD, a longtime resident of Laguna Beach, California, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. She was 94 years old. She is survived by son Randy Scott Sargent; daughters Lori Suzette Andrews and Rene Ellen Riley; her grandchildren, Bethany Anne Andrews, David James Andrews, and Charles Casper Sargent; and her great-grandson, Finneas Rowan Dressler.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Glyndon Daughtry Riley, PhD, and her son Randall Glen Riley.

Jeanna was beloved by her family, friends, colleagues, and those she served for her bright spirit, brilliant mind, wise counsel, and exquisite ability to listen and support the growth of those in her life. She held a quiet, steadfast faith that guided her life and brought her profound peace.

In her personal life, Jeanna enjoyed travel, reading, the arts (especially the theatre), philosophy, mysteries, backgammon, gourmet cooking, and entertaining. She especially enjoyed small dinner parties where meaningful conversations could take place.

“I think of home, not as a house but a relationship,” Jeanna once wrote. “It offers a space to put actions and interactions, a space of safety, a space where trust can be experienced and be nurtured. A space where lives are shared, explored, and honored, and conflicts resolved. It's a place of rest and renewal, where creativity can flourish and ideas expressed, heard and responded to.

“A home is a place to put our joys and laughter, as well as our tears and our griefs. Memories are made here, tender ones, happy ones, poignant ones. A house is just a house; a home is a sacred place to put relationships.”

Jeanna was born Rae Jean Norris on May 24, 1932, in Glendale, California, to Edna B. Murphy and Charles P. Norris. She attended Chino High School, Class of 1950. By the end of high school, she knew she wanted to study psychology—an ambition she would accomplish in later years.

In 1951, she married Richard Sargent and had two children, Randy Scott, born in 1952, and Lori Suzette, born in 1956.

When her children were older, Jeanna earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from California State University-Fullerton in 1967 and a Master of Arts degree in speech pathology from Cal State Fullerton in 1971. She earned her doctorate in psychology from the California Graduate Institute in 1983 and her clinical psychologist license in 1986.

On October 19, 1968, Jeanna married Glyndon Riley, in Claremont, California. Theirs was a love for the ages and indeed endures beyond our earthly bounds. Knowing they were richly blessed, their song was “My Cup Runneth Over (With Love).”

Their marriage lovingly brought together their children, Randy Sargent, Lori Sargent, Rene Riley, and Randall Riley. Their love and attention given to each family member created a supportive environment to help them flourish and thrive.

The couple enjoyed family and professional travel, making frequent trips to Europe for conferences and presentations, and to the South Pacific. They especially loved the Tahitian island of Moorea. Closer to home, they often retreated to the Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel on Catalina Island to relax and write.

Professionally, Jeanna and Glyn were internationally known as pioneers in the field of stuttering, where they were deeply respected for their lasting contributions to an understanding of stuttering practices.

Jeanna authored and co-authored numerous research articles in prestigious professional journals. She and Glyn presented their research findings in the United States and internationally.

Their research led to breakthroughs in diagnostics and treatment, including the Stuttering Severity Instrument, a Component Model to describe a child who is vulnerable to developing chronic stuttering, and the Speech Motor Training Program. Along with Glyn and Gerald Maguire, MD, Jeanna developed the Subjective Screening of Stuttering severity, locus of control and avoidance: research edition, a self-report questionnaire.

In 1971, Glyn and Jeanna founded Rileys Speech and Language Institute in Santa Ana/Tustin, which they operated until 2005.

In 1995, Glyn and Jeanna—along with colleagues Robert Emry and Elizabeth Mechling—founded the nonprofit Center for Children Who Stutter on the California State University-Fullerton campus. The Center provided expertise in stuttering diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and community education. Fees were based on ability to pay. In 2007, CASHA gave the Center its Program of the Year award for excellence in helping children who stutter.

Jeanna’s dedication to her professional pursuits earned her high honors, including becoming a Fellow in the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 1997. In 1998, she and Glyn received the Malcolm Hough Fraser Award for Clinical Excellence from the Stuttering Foundation of America, one of the highest honors in the field of fluency.

Jeanna and Glyn were active in research in stuttering up to the time of Glyn’s death in 2014. Jeanna continued their professional associations and participated in discussions involving stuttering treatment into her late 80s. She maintained her clinical psychology practice until 2019.

Jeanna will forever live in our hearts, remembered for her welcoming, nurturing presence and her generosity. Together with her husband, she shared a marriage truly blessed and built a home like no other—a vibrant sanctuary, where family, friends, and colleagues alike gathered to explore ideas and find comfort. Her intellect, warmth, and enduring influence will guide generations to come.

A private service at sea will be held on July 25, 2026, during which Jeanna’s ashes will be scattered near Shaw’s Cove, the family’s beloved gathering place.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Glyndon D. Riley Memorial Scholarship, established by Jeanna in loving memory of Glyn. To donate, please visit https://give.fullerton.edu/search, and enter the fund name in the search bar.