Michael William Riley

Michael Riley, 63, of Lake Isabella, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009, at Central Michigan Community Hospital. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, at St. Joseph The Worker Catholic Church with Father David Jenuwine presiding. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Traverse City at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. The family will receive friends on Monday from 6-9 p.m. at the church with the Vigil beginning at 7:30 p.m. Visitation continues on Tuesday one hour prior to Mass. Memorial contributions may be made to Woodland Hospice. Envelopes will be available at the church or at the Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home. Michael was born June 19, 1946, in Gloucester, MA, the son of Charles W. and Mary E. (Love) Riley. A graduate of Gloucester High School in 1964, he lettered all four years on the varsity baseball team. Michael received his Bachelors degree from Ferris State University. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1968-1979 as a helicopter pilot. He married Viola Denardo on Aug. 16, 1980, in Traverse City. He has been the branch manager of the Mt. Pleasant Secretary of State office the past 23 years.Some of his favorite pastimes were playing the banjo, reading technical manuals, taking the grandchildren on the boat, camping, and playing on the computer. He was a member of the Weidman Lions Club, the Mt. Pleasant Knights of Columbus, and a life member of the Pterodactyls Aviators Group. Michael is survived by his wife of 29 years, Vi Riley; five children, Dawn Leon of Beulah, Clifton H. Minier of Muskegon Heights, David Minier of Coldwater, Frank (Danyell) Minier of Boyne City, and Jeffrey (Teresa) Minier of Mancelona; 11 grandchildren; his mother, Betty Riley of Gloucester, MA; brother, Tim (Marilyn) Riley of Rowley, MA; his sister-in-law, Lorraine Riley of Connecticut; and many nieces and nephews in Michigan and Massachusetts. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles; and his brother, C. Patrick Riley. Michael was well respected by his colleagues and co-workers and touched the lives of many in the community. He was loved and will be missed dearly by his wife, children, grandchildren, mother, brother, and extended family.