Carla Jo Riner, age 52 of Mansfield, passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Avita Health System Ontario Hospital. She was born on January 4, 1973, in Shelbyville, Tennessee, to Joe Larry and Janie (Wells) Riner.
Carla watched “Gunsmoke” every day, and her three favorite movies were “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” the original “Jaws,” and “Dr. Dolittle.” She played basketball in the Special Olympics for the Richland County Bears in her school days. She always loved playing basketball and watching it on TV. She enjoyed playing the guitar and listening to Ricky Van Shelton, and she had many cowboy hats to match. She had a deep love of the crescent moon, a moon she used to love to look at with her daddy, and she was never seen without her baby moon Frank, who she loved to feed and care for.
She was an angel on Earth who just got her wings, and she touched so many lives along the way. She will be dearly missed.
She is survived by her mother Janie Riner; her siblings Kimberly (Nathan Brinker) Blackwell and Larry Michael “Mike” Riner; her nieces and nephews Janie “Joleen” (Ryan) Boice, Jason Michael Blackwell, Joseph (Heidi) Blackwell, and Jamie (Tony) Jose; her great-nieces and -nephews Dakota (Paige), Katey (Dashawn), Chance (Abrianna), Jden, Lainey, Brydan, Aaliyah, Kory, Aryia, Blake, Kayleen, Micah, Makayla (Ricky), and Allissa (James); her great-great-nieces and -nephews Kingston, Oakleigh, Kingsley, Hunter, Lake, Penelope, Kairo, and Dash; and numerous other nieces, nephews, and greats.
She was preceded in death by her father Joe Larry Riner and her great-great-niece Katrina.
A celebration of Carla’s life will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at J&B Banquet Hall, 2333 Lakewood Dr., Mansfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Special Olympics, one of her passions, online at SpecialOlympics.org or by mailing a check to Special Olympics, Attn: Web Gifts, 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, 11th Floor, Washington, DC 20037.
Werner-Gompf Funeral Services, 1106 Park Avenue East, Mansfield, is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements.
Online condolences may be made at www.wernergompf.com
Funeral Home: Werner-Gompf Funeral Services
Website: www.wernergompf.com