Herman Riley

View his Video Tribute: http://videos.lifetributes.com/187620Amory – Herman McLane Riley, 89, died on Sunday, January 2, 2011, in Lakeland, FL. Born on July 25, 1921, in Nettleton, he was a son of the late Edgar Lyle and Pansy Lee Coggin Riley.A man of integrity, Mr. Riley lived out the Christian life. Drafted into service, he honorably served his country in the US Army Air Corps during World War II. Mr. Riley was a graduate of Nettleton High School and Mississippi State University, Class of 1954. He returned to MSU for his Masters and Specialist degrees. Retiring in 1984 after thirty years of teaching, Mr. Riley was a Vocational-Agricultural teacher in Becker, Fulton and Amory, where he had taught for 27 years. He was named the Vocational-Agricultural Teacher of the Year for the State of Mississippi. Mr. Riley was an active member of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church where he had taught the Crusaders Sunday School class. He enjoyed watching football and basketball on television, doing yard work, playing his guitar, listening to Gospel music and volunteering with Meals-on-Wheels. Very passionate about Amory, Mr. Riley’s main beliefs were in God, his family and his country.He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sue Watson Riley, Amory; daughter, Betty (Glen) Duncan, Lakeland, FL; son, Rev. Mack (Jeannine) Riley, Marietta, GA; sister, Laverne (Warner) Hester, Amory; brothers, Mitchell Riley, Amory, Thomas Lee (Pat) Riley and Paul (Francis) Riley, both of Nettleton; grandchildren, James McLane (Polly) Riley, John Carlisle (April) Riley, Patrick Christian Riley, Mark Wesley (Elizabeth) Duncan and Hannah Lane Duncan; great-grandchildren, Andrew McLane Riley, John Philip Riley, Elizabeth Michelle Riley and Leila Christine Duncan; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Gertrude Davis and brother, Eugene Riley.A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 AM, Friday at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church with Rev. Glyn Wiygul and Rev. Tim Sisk officiating. A Graveside service will be held at 2:30 PM at Mantachie Cemetery with Rev. Tim Sisk and Rev. Ronnie Goodwin officiating. Pallbearers will be Michael and Roger Riley, Johnny Leech, Larry Palmer, and Jerry and Eddie Riley. Honorary pallbearers will be Brian Mobley, James Burrow, Larry Marett, Charles Clement, Charles Blankenship, Tremon Watson and the Crusaders Sunday School class.Mr. Riley will lie in state at the church from 10 AM until the service hour on Friday. Visitation will be from 5 – 8 PM, Thursday at E. E. Pickle Funeral Home, Amory.Memorials may be given to St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, c/o Herman Riley Memorial Fund, P. O. Box 535, Amory, MS 38821.Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com. Arrangements for the Riley family are in the care of E. E. Pickle Funeral Home, Amory.