Area 3 would like to express their sincerest condolences on the passing of George Riley – father to Leslie & Lynn Riley and husband to Doreen Riley. Leslie & Lynn are familiar faces around the show rings at Area 3 & OQHA shows and their mom Doreen was the Area 3 Bookkeeper for a number of years.
Lynn shared her remembrances with us:
This afternoon (July 26th) my dad passed away peacefully in the hospital at the age of 89. He had many health issues over the past 20 years, but the last year had been particularly challenging.
It seemed fitting that Leslie rode Georgia this morning practicing her patterns for the upcoming horse show and then went to the hospital and was at my dad’s bedside when his heart stopped. He would have liked to have heard how Leslie’s ride went and what a good girl Georgia had been. My dad loved the horses and the horse shows and supported our showing over the past 45 years through Pinto, Paint, Saddle Club and Quarter Horse.
Anyone who met my dad knew he had been a ski instructor. It was pretty much the first thing that came out of his mouth when you first met him. He was proud of this accomplishment and the fact that he could interact with others and teach them a sport he so loved.
As we bid adieu to my dad this afternoon, we wished him a fantastic ski run down some mountain somewhere!!
We will host a celebration of “The Life of Riley” August 20 from 2-4 at Hollandview Trail Retirement Home, 200 John West Way Aurora. Donations can be made in memory to The Arthritis Society. Details here.