Frank Neal Riley, of Russellville, was born July 31, 1933, in Greeneville, TN and raised in Mohawk, TN, passed peacefully on Monday, October 14, 2024, at the age 91.

A highlight of his life was playing basketball at McDonald High School, earning All-Season 50-51 and 51-52, all Tournament 51-52, and Athlete of the Year 1951.

Frank was a Korean Army Veteran who served in Okinawa. He also served in and retired from the TN Army National Guard 278th in Greeneville. He retired from the Greeneville Sun after forty years, beginning as a linotype operator and ending as AP Wire editor. He then worked 15 years in maintenance at Walters State Community College where he claimed to be the “Dean of Illumination.”

He was a handyman for many including woodworking, building two homes and a duplex. He celebrated his 80th birthday by skydiving. He was a member of Mohawk Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Frank was honored to get to go to Washington, DC on the Honor Air Flight in 2015.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bee B. and Parilee Lambert Riley; brothers, Herman Riley and Joe Riley; sisters, Claudia Joyner, Catherine Shipley, Carrie Ramsey, and Judy Park; and son, Patrick Scott Riley.

He leaves to cherish his memory, wife, Kay Riley; son, Timothy Neal (Dena) Riley; bonus daughter, Shawna (Dwight) Draper; grandchildren, Emily (Brian) Howarth, Rachel (Patrick) Smith, Kahlab (Manda) Riley, Jedidiah Riley, Kody Cronan, and Luke (Claudia) Cronan; great grandchildren, Riley, Charlie, Faith, Oakleigh, and Kye Scott; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.

The family will receive friends from 11AM – 1PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024, in the East Chapel of Allen Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1PM with Rev. Brandon J. Moore, Rev. Mike Cutshaw, Rev. Doug Silvers, and Richard Snowden officiating. Interment will follow the celebration of life in Hamblen Memory Gardens.

Memorial donations can be made to Disabled American Veterans C/O David C. Utterling, 1302 Highway 113, Bulls Gaps, TN 37711 or to a Hurricane Relief charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by Allen Funeral Home