Richard Max Riley was born on July 2nd, 1930, to Clifton and Gertrude (Johnson) Riley. He was born in Marlette at the home of his grandmother, Elva (Race) Johnson. His family moved to Mayville after a few years, where he graduated from high school in 1948. He attended Flint Junior College and worked towards a Liberal Arts degree for a while before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Camp Gordon, Georgia, where he graduated from Southeastern Signal School on June 9th, 1951. He was later stationed in Garmisch, Germany, for 9 months where he was a Cryptologist. He was honorably discharged on March 21st, 1952.
Richard then moved to Saginaw, where he enjoyed eating at Simkins' Bar & Grill. There was a young waitress that worked there, who happened to be the owner's daughter, and he always liked her, but she wore an engagement ring so he knew she was off limits. However, one evening while he was sitting at the bar, the waitress sat down next to him, and he noticed she wasn't wearing her ring anymore... So, he snatched her up and they were married 8 weeks later. Richard and Donna Jean Gould were married on her 21st birthday, which was May 28th, 1954. They were married by Reverend D. E. Ramsyer at the People's Church Parsonage in Bay City. They stayed in Saginaw for a short while before moving together to Mayville, living next door to Richard's mom & dad.
Richard and Donna had six children: Robert, Susan, Michael, Laurel, Kay, and Brian. He worked at Saginaw Steering Gear while raising their kids, and Donna worked as a lunch lady at Mayville schools. He also served on the Mayville planning commission for many years. Richard & Donna and their family were proud members of Juniata Baptist Church, where he was a member of the Sunshine group.
He was very much a family man. Richard & Donna's six kids gave them 17 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren, all of which he loved dearly. Richard also loved bowling, golfing, boating, photography, and history. He had endless stories about his times in the Army, and loved to share them. His favorite shows were Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and he also enjoyed watching ice skating competitions along with the usual football and baseball games. He was a very proud Michigander, too. He knew many interesting facts about his state that he loved.
After spending 61 married years in Mayville together, Richard & Donna moved to Houghton Lake to be with 3 of their 6 children who lived there, after their health began to decline. Richard passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, February 6th, 2016, at home. He was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Jeffrey McLellan, and grandson Joshua Stilson.
Richard then moved to Saginaw, where he enjoyed eating at Simkins' Bar & Grill. There was a young waitress that worked there, who happened to be the owner's daughter, and he always liked her, but she wore an engagement ring so he knew she was off limits. However, one evening while he was sitting at the bar, the waitress sat down next to him, and he noticed she wasn't wearing her ring anymore... So, he snatched her up and they were married 8 weeks later. Richard and Donna Jean Gould were married on her 21st birthday, which was May 28th, 1954. They were married by Reverend D. E. Ramsyer at the People's Church Parsonage in Bay City. They stayed in Saginaw for a short while before moving together to Mayville, living next door to Richard's mom & dad.
Richard and Donna had six children: Robert, Susan, Michael, Laurel, Kay, and Brian. He worked at Saginaw Steering Gear while raising their kids, and Donna worked as a lunch lady at Mayville schools. He also served on the Mayville planning commission for many years. Richard & Donna and their family were proud members of Juniata Baptist Church, where he was a member of the Sunshine group.
He was very much a family man. Richard & Donna's six kids gave them 17 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren, all of which he loved dearly. Richard also loved bowling, golfing, boating, photography, and history. He had endless stories about his times in the Army, and loved to share them. His favorite shows were Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and he also enjoyed watching ice skating competitions along with the usual football and baseball games. He was a very proud Michigander, too. He knew many interesting facts about his state that he loved.
After spending 61 married years in Mayville together, Richard & Donna moved to Houghton Lake to be with 3 of their 6 children who lived there, after their health began to decline. Richard passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, February 6th, 2016, at home. He was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Jeffrey McLellan, and grandson Joshua Stilson.
Richard Max Riley was born on July 2nd, 1930, to Clifton and Gertrude (Johnson) Riley. He was born in Marlette at the home of his grandmother, Elva (Race) Johnson. His family moved to Mayville after a few years, where he graduated from high school in 1948. He attended Flint Junior College and worked towards a Liberal Arts degree for a while before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Camp Gordon, Georgia, where he graduated from Southeastern Signal School on June 9th, 1951. He was later stationed in Garmisch, Germany, for 9 months where he was a Cryptologist. He was honorably discharged on March 21st, 1952.
Richard then moved to Saginaw, where he enjoyed eating at Simkins' Bar & Grill. There was a young waitress that worked there, who happened to be the owner's daughter, and he always liked her, but she wore an engagement ring so he knew she was off limits. However, one evening while he was sitting at the bar, the waitress sat down next to him, and he noticed she wasn't wearing her ring anymore... So, he snatched her up and they were married 8 weeks later. Richard and Donna Jean Gould were married on her 21st birthday, which was May 28th, 1954. They were married by Reverend D. E. Ramsyer at the People's Church Parsonage in Bay City. They stayed in Saginaw for a short while before moving together to Mayville, living next door to Richard's mom & dad.
Richard and Donna had six children: Robert, Susan, Michael, Laurel, Kay, and Brian. He worked at Saginaw Steering Gear while raising their kids, and Donna worked as a lunch lady at Mayville schools. He also served on the Mayville planning commission for many years. Richard & Donna and their family were proud members of Juniata Baptist Church, where he was a member of the Sunshine group.
He was very much a family man. Richard & Donna's six kids gave them 17 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren, all of which he loved dearly. Richard also loved bowling, golfing, boating, photography, and history. He had endless stories about his times in the Army, and loved to share them. His favorite shows were Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and he also enjoyed watching ice skating competitions along with the usual football and baseball games. He was a very proud Michigander, too. He knew many interesting facts about his state that he loved.
After spending 61 married years in Mayville together, Richard & Donna moved to Houghton Lake to be with 3 of their 6 children who lived there, after their health began to decline. Richard passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, February 6th, 2016, at home. He was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Jeffrey McLellan, and grandson Joshua Stilson.
Richard then moved to Saginaw, where he enjoyed eating at Simkins' Bar & Grill. There was a young waitress that worked there, who happened to be the owner's daughter, and he always liked her, but she wore an engagement ring so he knew she was off limits. However, one evening while he was sitting at the bar, the waitress sat down next to him, and he noticed she wasn't wearing her ring anymore... So, he snatched her up and they were married 8 weeks later. Richard and Donna Jean Gould were married on her 21st birthday, which was May 28th, 1954. They were married by Reverend D. E. Ramsyer at the People's Church Parsonage in Bay City. They stayed in Saginaw for a short while before moving together to Mayville, living next door to Richard's mom & dad.
Richard and Donna had six children: Robert, Susan, Michael, Laurel, Kay, and Brian. He worked at Saginaw Steering Gear while raising their kids, and Donna worked as a lunch lady at Mayville schools. He also served on the Mayville planning commission for many years. Richard & Donna and their family were proud members of Juniata Baptist Church, where he was a member of the Sunshine group.
He was very much a family man. Richard & Donna's six kids gave them 17 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren, all of which he loved dearly. Richard also loved bowling, golfing, boating, photography, and history. He had endless stories about his times in the Army, and loved to share them. His favorite shows were Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and he also enjoyed watching ice skating competitions along with the usual football and baseball games. He was a very proud Michigander, too. He knew many interesting facts about his state that he loved.
After spending 61 married years in Mayville together, Richard & Donna moved to Houghton Lake to be with 3 of their 6 children who lived there, after their health began to decline. Richard passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, February 6th, 2016, at home. He was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law Jeffrey McLellan, and grandson Joshua Stilson.
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