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Maurice Richard Riley
1964 - 2019
Maurice Richard Riley
1964 - 2019
Obituary
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BORN
1964
DIED
2019
Maurice Riley Obituary
RILEY, Maurice Richard - Of Burton, age 55, died Friday, December 6, 2019 at his residence.
Maurice was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 12, 1964, the son of Hermine Scates and Richard Riley.
A child prodigy, Maurice was celebrated for his genius at a young age. He unprecedently skipped 4 grades going from third to eighth at the age of 9. His academic marks earned him distinction after distinction scoring in the 99th percentile of students in the entire state of Illinois and among the top in the United States. He could read, write and do math at grade levels leaps beyond his own. Yet he himself however was a man who simply loved comic books, arcades, sports and spending quality time with his loved ones. He loved nothing more than to share the knowledge he acquired with others. He loved teaching his children to navigate the world of computing, American history and loved to see them succeed in their passions. He loved to compete in pick-up games of basketball regularly. He loved delicious food, and entertainment in the form of movies, television shows, video games most notably: Spike Lee Joints, and the Boondocks. His maxim was 'those who are afraid to ask questions are ashamed to learn' and so, he inspires those around him reach their fullest potential and tap into their own gifts. He was a member o Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, and a Veteran of the United States Navy.
He is survived by his 6 children: Kelsey, Khameron, Kwynn, Kori, Zoë, and Maya. His partner Kathleen, his former wife, Crystal, his siblings, Sherri, Lori, Jared, Patrick, Red, his mother Hermine, his second family The Pierce's, and a host of close friend's, extended family, and fellow veteran mariners.
21 Entries
Lionel A. Mcknight
January 12, 2023
To the family of Maurice Riley,
I am so sorry for your loss. I think this is the same Maurice I went to highschool with back in 1976-1980 at Paul Lawrence Dunbar Vocational Chicago.
The obituary did not say what highschool Maurice went to, but it definitely looks like him.
If one of the family members would be kind enough to to call me on my cell so that I would be certain that this is the Maurice I did indeed have print shop class with at Dunbar, I would really appreciate it.
Deep sympathy, prayers and blessings to the family.
From Lionel Mcknight Cell: 630-835-3930
email: [email protected]
Mj Mytech
December 10, 2020
Hey Maurice ! i just got a notification to say something about you or to you ! :) "ALL HANDS ON DECK !" and we JUMP HIGH to touch the top sides of the local signages at the shopping plaza in Groton, :) remember ?! and yeah yeah i know you REFUSE to recognize NC STATE 1983 victors over five slamma jamma ! lol I'll never forget how PISSED you were at the end of that game lol hahahahahaaaa ! yeah yeah but you know it was an outstanding game all the way to 00:00 ! thats how it was in Dick Vitales 80's baaaaabbbbbyyyyyyyy ! ............... well next time i goto chicago, take me for a ride on the loop again and to the theatre again where we went to watch purple rain ! YEAH "".........AIN'T GONNA LET THE ELEVATOR BREAK US DOWN.....OH NO LETS GO !................LETSS GGGOOOOOO CRAZIEAAA !" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA ! i had alot of fun with you ! ...................check you out next time i'm notified to share some thoughts 'bout cha okay?........... alright now, don't be up there gettin pissed about ya team not gettin it done now, give 'em time they come around ;) ............. missin ya ! and remembering ya ! your friend Mj !
MJ mytech
June 6, 2020
I found a database that has allowed me to locate many people of my past, I had tried several times in the past to locate Maurice, but with no success. Then I found a database that gave lots of information about people and sure enough I located Maurice.
Maurice was a boomer I was a fast attack submariner. I met him while I was at C school in Groton and instantly we were friends. Basketball and Arcade Video gaming was our connection. We were both thin and wirily guys! and we both loved having fun.
At the base gym we were commonly known there playing basketball, and we ate at the chow hall together lots of times, when he went off to deployment, I was in and out of port. Maurice was the 1st person that taught me the incredible communications of E-MAIL !
We went to New York and Boston to tour the areas and PLAY ARCADE VIDEO GAMES LOL ! I I remember seeing a Chevrolet Corvette parked in Boston Mass with the top down and a cellphone mounted at the center console, I stared at it and got closer and closer and Maurice said, CMON NOW DONT GET TOO CLOSE TO THAT ! LOL, I connected with Maurice cause we both just wanted to have fun ! that SMILE of his was his trademark !
Maurice had a DEEP LOVE for the game of basketball, and we watched a lot of games together in the common areas of the barracks. NCAA was his favorite ! JORDAN could NOT do no wrong lol. I remember Maurice reaction to the incredible 1983 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL between NC State and Da 5 Slamajammas, Maurice was a MASSIVE .. HOUSTON FAN ! and when NC State pulled off that surprise victory, Maurice jumped up and screamed !...NO, I WILL NOT RECOGNIZE NORTH CAROLINA THE VICTORY !.......I WILL NOT ! LOL ! MAURICE was HEAVILY PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS GAMES AND COMPETITION ! And thats what I loved about the guy ! When Michael Jordan made the move to Chicago, Maurice was PROUD !
Maurice invited me to come to Chicago and meet his friends, I did goto Chicago and meet some very kind folks ! it was very warm and friendly and like Maurice they were a lot of fun ! and YES OF COURSE WE WENT TO PLAY ARCADE VIDEO GAMES ! LOL
I remember very clear about him going out on the Gold Crew of the Nathanael Greene ! he talked a lot about angles and dangles and he used to laugh about the Captain and Chief of the Boat screaming, GET THIS SHIP STOWED ! LOL , Maurice enjoyed his rate as a Yeoman, that guy could type so fast I used to say to him ! DUDE YOU NEED COOLING WATER FOR YOUR HOT HANDS ! and he would look back at me with that SMILE ! LOL . i kind of do remember Maurice mentioning about the Greene being talked about going up to Maine for shipyards, i think Maurice did go up there to Maine for shipyards work with the Greene.....if he did i'm sure it would have been a logistical nightmare for Maurice as a Yeoman do that administrative work !
I remember in Groton, we would goto an arcade in the downtown area in a shopping plaza, and there were hanging signs at each of the stores, and after playing the games we would go and jump and jump at the different store signs ! to try and touch the tops of the box lighted signs, we had no problems doing that and Maurice was very agile at doing it!
I also remember a time when one of my instructors asked me to come to his house and install a kitchen microwave oven over the stove, so I asked Maurice if he wanted to come and help and Maurice said OKAY LETS GO ! So, okay there we were Maurice and I manhandling this HUGE Microwave, and positioning it into position, and Maurice had a slight slip and my instructor friend went HEY GUYS BECAREFUL THATS AN EXPENSIVE UNIT ! MAURICE WOULD PAUSE.....and then GAVE that SMILE and yes we got it done ! I couldnt have done it without Maurice help, and to this day the instructor friend of mine is still in contact with me and I did pass this news onward about Maurice.
Our friendship was easily defined as mutual respect and progressive activities! Maurice was a strong friend of mine and I would NEVER forget him as we departed with new orders to other parts of the world.
Unfortunately I lost contact with Maurice, and I always wondered what?where?how is he doing? And I tried and tried and tried. And then I had this success ! to discover this news about my friend ! yes! I had a lot of great times with Maurice and I was ready to rekindle them all over again but I didnt know if he had built a family?! I wanted to find out and discover Maurice again! Judging from this photo ! he still the same fun guy !
I wrote this for his family ! Maurice had a HUGELY STRONG IMPACT ! ON ME ! people like Maurice? You never forget and will stop at NOTHING to locate them! Embrace them ! show that LOVE ! as they did to you !
Maurice is in my heart ! cause he was apart of my youth when I was so vulnerable, I was safe with Maurice cause he was a fun smart no nonsense progressive kind of guy ! Im beyond grateful, Im FORTUNATE to have Maurice as my (( shaking my head in disbelief he's gone )) as my FRIEND ! My memories are fully intact and vivid ! i can now see he did in fact developed a STRONG FAMILY ! :) and since he had developed A FAMILY ! they were the luckiest folks to have him as husband and father.....and i was lucky to have him as my friend ! :)
as Maurice used to say to me............""ALL RIGHT !!!....... ALL HANDS ON TOPSIDE !"" and we ran and jumped to touch the tops of the box signs ! i didn't know a memory was being created ! :) but it was.........and i'm here to tell it too you !
The game I watched with Maurice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K3UJUmHREQ
Kelsey R.
February 29, 2020
We miss you Dad! Happy belated birthday
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Lori Hall-Israel
January 16, 2020
Maurice was and is my oldest brother. I not only loved him, i adored him. He knows im such a tennis freak that when the beginning of tennis season would start in January he would always call me and we would talk tennis stats all the time!!! I missed my brother when he left for the navy but was glad when he would call or come home to visit. I traveled back and forth to Michigan from Chicago to see him kat and the kids and always had fun visiting them. He had good days and bad but we always talked it out. Im having a hard time with him being gone, its really affecting my daily life but im also glad he's not suffering anymore. I love you to the moon and back maurice. No one will ever have a great big brother like the one( you) i was blessed with. We all miss you but i miss you more than you will ever know!!!! Love you
Beth Cutrara
December 22, 2019
A kind and gentle spirit I am glad I was able to meet.
Joe Harlan
December 21, 2019
Rest in peace shipmate Mo. Condolences to the family.
Ron Greenlee
December 21, 2019
RIP in peace shipmate. We had some good times together, in Edinburgh, Groton and at sea. My sincere condolences to your family and loved ones.
Ernie Gomez
December 20, 2019
RIP Shipmate
Michael Dorman
December 20, 2019
I loved Mo. He was a sweet young man. I am so, so, sorry he's gone
Ron McCullough
December 20, 2019
Mo was a great shipmate. He was always willing to help if you needed it. Words could not effectively express how Maurice will be missed. My heart goes out to the family.
Tim Kesling
December 20, 2019
A fine shipmate. We had great times in Scotland, especially a trip to Edinburgh. Maurice will be missed.
Margo Giannoulis
December 20, 2019
My heart goes out to the entire family. May God provide and protect all of the children who I deeply adore and wish the best in life. Kam - you wrote a beautiful obituary!
Nick Condito
December 20, 2019
Mo was a great shipmate but a better friend ! I will never forget the times we spent together and will tell stories of him whenever anyones asks me about my Navy days. Although we lived miles away we kept in touch and laughed and laughed about our times together. Rest your oars my friend, until we meet again.
Dianne Mishra
December 20, 2019
My prayers for all of the family and his friends ❤ I'm so sad for your loss.
kliner jackson
December 20, 2019
Maurice was always nice to me - in spite of my goofiness. He was always be one of the good ones.
Janet Wright-Moore
December 20, 2019
My sincere condolences to the entire Riley Family!
Kat Ryan
December 20, 2019
This girls and I miss you hirtible everyday. Mya has been running through the house looking for you. We tell you good morning and good night each day but your absence is felt. The only solace is that you are no longer suffering and that you are at peace. We love and miss you with all of our hearts. I got our girls here, you watch them from above.
Alleson and Denise Gresham-Knox
December 20, 2019
Our prayers are with the entire Riley Family, who we love, Crystal, Kelsey, Kam, Kwynn and Kori. Alleson and Denise Knox
Cassandra Galloway
December 19, 2019
R Bowers
December 9, 2019
You Will be missed brother. My biggest regret is not getting to talk to you before you left. I will always cherish our moments together.
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