On Sunday, March 22nd 2020, loving husband and father of two, Riley Walter Moore passed away at the age of 71.
Riley was born February 9th, 1949 in Kansas City, KS to Arthur and Genevieve Moore. He started his career as a truck driver in his early twenties and stuck with it until his retirement in 2004. On January 30th, 1975, he married Ruth Marie Parrish, and together they raised their daughter Sheila and son Matthew.
Riley loved people and lived to make them laugh. He was a beloved prankster and a favorite Uncle. He had a knack for making people feel special and safe. He was described as a “shade-tree mechanic” who enjoyed working on old cars and tinkering with his motorcycle. He was kindhearted and generous. If he was able to help others in anyway, he would do so, without hesitation.
He was a fan of old Westerns and considered John Wayne a personal hero. He enjoyed the original Star Trek series, Charlies Angels, and was a big fan of Mo-Town with a deep fondness for Diana Ross and the Supremes. He also enjoyed fishing, camping, and building model cars. He was especially good at doodling. In the last few months, he sketched a project for a perfect front porch to enjoy a beautiful day. His life was far from extravagant, but his dreams always seemed to be large. If he put his mind to something, he'd no sooner figure it out.
In 1974, he found his eyes set on Ruth Parrish. She boldly declared that she was not interested and wanted nothing to do with him. Yet, his persistence won out. After a motorcycle ride and their first date, she threw a helmet at him and ran inside after he kissed her. He kept up the chase and within a year, they were married. Enduring love and stubborn will no doubt both played a part in creating a happy and dedicated marriage that would span over four decades.
Riley was a man who knew his way around a conversation and yet still seemed to be a man of few words. Some of those words were things like, “there I was lost in the wilderness”, or “yup, I reckon so”, and would never miss an opportunity to point out cemeteries and announce how people are just dying to get in there. At his sister’s funeral a couple of years ago, he had a hard time controlling his laughter, as he fought the urge to grab her hand and yell, “No, Ellenor! Don’t take me with you, it’s not my time!”
Riley was preceded in death by his father Arthur, and mother Genevieve, and two older sisters, Sharon and Ellenor. He is survived by his wife Ruth, daughter Sheila and her husband Brandon, son Matthew and wife Olivia, and seven grand kids, Matthew, Noah, Jaelyn, Hudson, Brianna, Harper, and Clementine, as well as his younger brother Arthur, and younger sister Shelley. Due to the nature of the time we are in and the distance of many family members, Riley’s memorial will be scheduled at a later date. Always remember, as Riley would often say, no matter where you go….there you are.