James E. Riley

James Edward Riley, retired, 63, Winston, Oregon, passed away Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Roseburg, Oregon.

He was born Sept. 11, 1961, in Washington, Missouri. His life was nothing short of an adventure.

Jim attended St. Francis Borgia Catholic School from 1st grade to 11th grade. He then transferred to Washington High School where he graduated in 1979. After moving to Berger, Missouri, he worked at Langenberg Hat Factory until joining the USCG in 1981.

He served in the United States Coast Guard as a Telephone Technician and Communication Specialist and retired after 21 years as a TT Chief. After retiring he worked at several jobs in the Hermann and Washington area before moving with his wife and daughter to Oregon.

Throughout his 21 military years (1981-2002) he was stationed in a number of places including Cape May, New Jersey; North Carolina; New Orleans, Louisiana; Topeka, Kansas; Astoria, Oregon; Seattle, Washington on the Polar Sea Ice Breaker; Astoria, Oregon again where he married the love of his life; Key West, Florida; and finally, Seattle, Washington. While on the Polar Sea, Jim traveled around the world and was able to visit countries like Australia, Denmark, Spain, Canada, Iceland, Greenland, South America, North and South Pole, and the United Kingdom, where his wife was able to fly there and have an adventure of her own. While Jim was on the Polar Sea, he made history during the 1994 North Pole expedition with Canada to travel across the North Pole from Alaska to Maine. The expedition was the subject of a documentary that aired on cable TV. Jim received the Seven Sea Award from the USCG along with numerous other medals.

In 1991, Jim married the love of his life Dianna in Astoria, Oregon. They enjoyed their life together and were married for thirty-three years. Jim was excited to move back to Oregon to be closer to his four daughters and eight grandchildren.

He is survived by his loving wife, Dianna Riley; daughters, Dannielle Glines, Catherine Morrill, Deana Lang, and Ginger Person; brother Mark Riley, sisters Sandy Nyhart, Shelia Meyer, and Janet Lowry; and eight grandchildren Deanndra, John, Colton, Wiley, Harper, Cort, Tynan, and Ila. James also is survived by his nieces and nephews and a host of extended family and friends who will miss his humor, warmth, and kindness.

He was preceded in death by his parents John and Ruthie Riley. Also, his maternal grandparents: Rudoph and Olivia Schulze and paternal grandparents: James Ezra and Mary Riley.

Family and friends attended Jim's celebration of life which took place in Port Orford, Oregon on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

The Riely family was served by Taylor's Family Mortuary, Winston, Oregon.