Archie W. Riley, was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away at the age of 86 on May 28th, 2023, in Coffeyville, Kansas at Medicalodges on Midland. Born on September 9th, 1936, in Rural Welch Oklahoma to Ernest and Hattie (Hubbard) Riley, Archie grew up to be a hardworking man who always put his family first. Archie was a lifelong resident of Edna, Kansas.
Archie graduated from Edna High School in the class of 1957 and after being drafted in the US Army and serving in Ulm, Germany for 18 1/2 months he continued to serve in the Kansas National Guard of Coffeyville for seven years. Archie was known for his dedicated work ethic having worked at the flour mill for four years before accepting employment with Funk Manufacturing now known as John Deere where he worked for thirty-one years before his retirement. Even after retiring from John Deere, Archie continued to work at SEKTAM for another four years.
Aside from his career achievements, Archie took pride in being a loving husband to Mary Olehy who was also his high school sweetheart. The couple got married on July 1st, 1961 in Miami, Oklahoma and were about to celebrate their sixty-second wedding anniversary when Archie passed away. Together they made their home in Edna where he served on the city council for seventeen years, a member of First Southern Baptist Church in Coffeyville where he remained an active member until his death.
Archie's greatest passion was spending quality time with his family; he cherished his wife and daughter Karen and loved spoiling them both whenever he could. His love did not stop at Mary and Karen; then grandchildren Jacob and Kyla arrived; Archie's joy knew no bounds! Every evening after work would find Archie walking to Karen's house to play with the grandchildren while Karen tended to a few needs. Not to mention the phone call from Mary who checking to see if he had stopped by because he hadn't made it home yet. And then later came great-grandchildren Ella Mae Smith, Gideon Pearce and Charlotte Pearce; they were just like the cherry on top his joy was complete.
Archie was a man of his word, known to always fulfill his promises and never put anyone else's need before his family's. He was an avid tinkerer, always doing the maintenance on all his vehicles, lawnmowers and other machinery around the house. Archie left nothing to chance and was self-sufficient with every machine that came through his hands.
Archie Riley is survived by his wife Mary Riley, daughter Karen and her husband Denzil Smith whom he loved dearly. He is also survived by grandchildren Jacob Smith and wife Michelle, Kyla and husband Nathan Pearce; great-grandchildren Ella Mae Smith, Gideon Pearce and Charlotte Pearce who brought him joy beyond measure. In addition to these loved ones, Archie leaves behind nieces, nephews and friends who he impacted during his lifetime. Archie's passing was preceded by brothers Marvin Riley and Willard Riley as well as sister Norma Duvall.
Friends and family will be received at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave. in Coffeyville on June 4th, 2023 from 5 pm to 7 pm for visitation and First Southern Baptist Church will host Archie's funeral service at 10 am on June 5th with burial following at North Edna Cemetery, Edna, Kansas where Pastor Matt Friese will officiate and Miliary Honors will be provided by Ft. Riley's Big Red One.
To honor Archie’s legacy, donations can be made to First Southern Baptist Church or Edna Volunteer Fire Department and may be left in care of the chapel.
If Archie were here today, he would encourage everyone that Heaven is very real and moving forward one should make a conscious effort to accept Jesus as a personal Savior. Rest in Peace Archie Riley; you have impacted the world around you immeasurably yet left the world brighter with your light. You will truly be missed but forever remembered – your life serving as fiery motivation for us all to live better lives!
