PATRICK PAUL RILEY

1951 - 2016

PATRICK PAUL RILEY died December 7, 2016, in Wheat Ridge, Colo., after a long illness. Pat, as his friends and family called him, was born August 9, 1951, in Weston, W.Va. He grew up in Huntington, attending St. Joseph High School and Marshall University, where he received his degree in geology. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Tomlinson Riley; his two daughters and sons-in-law, Tara Riley-Kirk and Ricky Kirk, Vanessa Page and Carlus Page; and his son Ian Riley; and five grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Katie Ergenekon; and three nieces. He also has extended family, including special sister- in-law Barbie Tomlinson; and step-sons David and Cyndie Chinn, Brian and Laura Chinn, Adam Chinn; and eleven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Thomas and Frances Riley. He was a man of few words, but his laughter could fill a room. He enjoyed good food and travel for work and pleasure. His homemade eggnog was the stuff of family legend. After obtaining a degree in geology from Marshall University, Huntington, W.Va., in 1976, Pat held various positions as a geologist from 1976 to 1980, and before becoming the president of RMS, he authored many geologic reports of surface and underground properties in the Appalachian coalfields. He also gained recognition as a competent consultant in areas of hydrology and environmental and engineering geology in the US and other countries such as the Philippines, China, and Mexico. Pat left West Virginia in 1996 to join Exploration Computer Services, a software firm in Lakewood, Colorado as a Senior Geologist. He quickly became the company's vice president in 1998 before purchasing it along with one other employee in 2000 and forming his own consulting practice (3PR, Inc.) in 2003. Over those years, Pat was recognized the world over as an expert in geologic modeling and resource estimation. His students include numerous geologists in Australia, Canada, Columbia, and Venezuela who to this day still remember him fondly. Soon after returning from an assignment in Mongolia in April 2008, Pat suffered multiple aneurysms which left him unable to continue the career he loved. Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Ricky Kirk at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14, 2016, at the Reger Funeral Chapel, Huntington. Burial will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery, Huntington. Friends may call Wednesday from 11 a.m. until service time at the Reger Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Christopher House, 6270 West 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. Condolences may be made to the family at www.regerfh.com.