Bernard J. Riley

Bernard Joseph Riley, 86, of Maryville, Missouri, passed away August 25, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care in Saint Joseph, surrounded by family.

He was born on August 13, 1939, to Thomas and Vivian (King) Riley on the three-generation Riley family farm in Ravenwood, Missouri; where his grandparents (John and Anna Riley) had been early settlers and his father Thomas was born. He married Sharon Luke on June 20, 1964, and they moved to the farm in 1966 where they raised their family. His roots ran deep on that farm!

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother George Riley and sister-in-law Barbara Riley.

An early advocate for organ donation, stating “Don’t take your organs to heaven – heaven knows we need them here!”, Bernard donated a kidney to his brother George in August 1994. He never gave it a second thought to donate and he was able to see the result of his gift for another ten years; saying “He’s not heavy Lord, he’s my brother.”

Bernard was a member and attended St. Gregory’s Barbarigo Catholic Church in Maryville. He was a 40-year member of the Tri-C American Legion Post 464, Conception Junction, Missouri. Since 1989, a member of the Maryville Bearcat Fraternal Order of Eagles and served many offices including State President and South-Central Regional President. He was inducted into the “Missouri State FOE Hall of Fame” in 2023 and received the “Missouri State FOE Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2025.

Bernard and his brother John had once followed the wheat harvest in Montana. He served his Country with the US Army National Guard in Maryville from 1958-65. He had worked for Allison Concrete in Stanberry, had delivered Falstaff Beer for Jim Vawter in the area, and had once owned the Palm’s Bar in Maryville from 1963-66. He was a farmer and raised cattle and hay. And he had worked as a union carpenter for 37 years, working for Grace Construction, and for Lehr Construction of St. Joseph.

His survivors include his wife of over 61 years, Sharon of the home in Maryville. His children, Christine Standiford (Wayne Corcoran), and children, Ashley (Jordan) Smith, Amanda (Cori) Wardlow, and Angela Standiford, Raymond (Patti) Riley, and children, Lukas Riley, Johnathan Riley, Kristen Patterson, Shannon (Josh) Milbourn, and Justin (Hannah) Patterson, Roger Riley, (Jessica Klinefelter), and children, Abigail (Dakota) Hoecker, Gabriella Riley (Ari Ross), Saleena Scholbrock, and Caleb Fields, Sara (Doug) Freemyer, and children, Shelby (Gary) Wyant, and Kameron Freemyer, Rex (Tanya) Riley, and children, Brianna (Cory) Rosenbohm, Vanessa Riley, and Andrea Riley. His brothers, John and Leo (Linda) Riley, and sister-in-law, Mary Riley, 17 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

There will be a parish and family Rosary at 4:30 PM on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at St. Gregory’s Barbarigo Catholic Church, Maryville; followed by a FOE memorial. The visitation will continue from 5:30-7:00 PM.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM on Monday, September 1, 2025, at St. Gregory’s. The burial, with military honors, will follow at St. Columba Cemetery, Conception, Missouri. The funeral service will be live streamed through the church.

Services are under the direction of the Bram Funeral Home, Maryville, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the diabetes education program with Deby Hull at Mosaic Medical Center, Maryville, the Midwest Transplant Network, and the Freudenthal Center for Parkinson's Disease in Saint Joseph.