Richard W. Riley

Richard W. Riley, Dealer in Livestock and Anything Else that Come Along.

This is the job description and personal motto Richard selected for himself back in the 1970’s when he was a newly married husband to Susan Vose, had a toddler, Lea Marie Riley, an infant, Jennifer Frances and one daughter yet to come, Beth Alice. Richard was born May 27, 1937, the son of William and Alice Riley, brother of Jane Riley. He was raised working in his father’s fish market, Riley’s Market, in Houlton. He learned early in life the value of a dollar and the hard work to accompany it. He married Susan Marie Vose in October 1967, and they began their life together in East Hodgdon. He and Susan were married for 54 years. Richard would be 86 this month. He lived a full, happy, and experience-filled life and, like his motto suggests, he embraced life’s possibilities fully and was open to everything and anything that came along.

Looking out the window of his family home with its sweeping view of fields, Mount Katahdin in the distance, and horse and cattle pastures encircling the house on three sides, Richard would pronounce with the utmost sincerity, “What more could a man want?” And that is the very essence of Richard Riley. He loved his family home, into which he warmly welcomed family and friends at all times, although he also was not shy in saying, “Time for strangers to go home and fools to go to bed.”

Richard began his career as a businessman by selling calves. He was an avid cattleman and horseman. Each year, Richard would grow his summer herd, which some years numbered more than 150+. Many nights, the family would go for a ride to the Westford Hill pasture so Richard could look at the cattle and assess their health. Richard could count, recall and assess his herd like no other. Cattle was not his only business venture. Richard also bought and sold land, woodlots, houses, trailer trucks and anything else he felt was a good deal.

Richard was not all work and no play, we promise you, what he played at was taken just as seriously. He was an animal lover first and foremost, spoiling his pets on holidays and treating them with love and attention. He was most passionate about horses, pool/billiards, cards and gun collecting. He trained every horse he owned, including Charlie, his most well-known horse. Each of his girls learned how to ride on Charlie and he was Richard's faithful companion and cattle-catching partner for close to 30 years. Even in his waning years when riding horses was no longer possible and his short-term memory began to fade, Richard still remembered riding every day and could be counted on to evaluate a horse’s attributes. Sometimes the rating was a simple hand gesture, while other times it was an exclamation of pride.

Richard loved to play pool and thankfully found a group of men who shared his devotion. Together, they would play most Saturday nights in winter into the wee hours of the morning. Cards was another favorite pastime. Rummy and cribbage typically were played for a buck, maybe more, depending on the opponent.

Richard loved his family, he loved his friends and he loved life. He and Susan created a wonderful family home that they shared for over 50 years. As we look back and survey the rich tapestry that was our father’s life and consider what he means to us, we now are the ones who find ourselves saying, “What more could we possibly want?” We are thankful for the unique experiences we shared with our father and most importantly for the two wonderful parents who raised us. It is our greatest wish that Richard and Susan are now reunited and enjoying each other’s company once again.

Richard is survived by his daughters, Lea Riley, Jennifer Riley Vega, and Beth Edwards and husband Seth, his five grandchildren, Hayley Mason and fiancé Sam Jacob, Rhetta Vega, Isaac Vega, Riley Edwards and Lane Edwards, and one great grandson, Carson Jacob. Richard was predeceased by his parents, William and Alice, wife Susan, sister Jane and son-in-law Jason Anderson.

A reception celebrating the life of Richard and Susan will be held Saturday, June 3 at 10:30 am at the Littleton Agricultural Museum, 1664 US Highway 1, Littleton, ME. Condolences may be expressed at DunnFuneral.com.