Roger Riley

Roger D. Riley, 64, of Jackson went home after his life's most arduous ride tackling the twists and turns, switchbacks, hills and curves of lung cancer Monday, May 12, 2014, and is now riding the heavenly highways.

He was a motorcycle enthusiast and rider renowned throughout the world, master joke teller, self-taught computer guru, U.S. Army veteran, Patriot Guard Rider, do-it-yourselfer, tax preparer and instructor, son, husband, stepfather, brother, uncle, cousin, mentor and friend to many in all walks of life.

Roger was born Jan. 30, 1950, in Essex, Missouri, to Melvin and Juanita Myers Riley. He married the love of his life, Marlene Cloude, formerly of Frederick, Maryland, Sept. 20, 2000, in Honolulu. He lived life to the fullest as a young man in Advance, Missouri.

Survivors include his wife of Jackson; his mother of Jackson; a brother, Dean Riley of Fruitland; two sisters, Paula Sue Riley Gregori of Jackson and Carla Sherree Riley of Advance; a stepson, Colby Cloude of Long Island, New York; a niece, Alica Riley of Boston; and nephews Jared Riley of Jackson, Paul Riley of Advance and Victor Gregori of Columbia, Missouri, who all had a special place in his heart.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Roger attended Lynwood Baptist Church many years and is currently a member of Cape County Cowboy Church in Oak Ridge.

He worked at the Advance Shoe Factory during his early years. He was a natural born intellectual and at one time was invited to test for MENSA. After graduating from Advance High School, Roger worked for a short period of time at Chrysler Corp. in Fenton, Missouri. In 1969, he hired in at the new Procter & Gamble plant in Jackson.

Not long after hiring in, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in the 1st Battalion, 94th Artillery. He served in Germany during the Vietnam era and was inducted into service for his country at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, He did AIT training in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

When Roger's tour of service for his country ended, he returned to his position with Procter & Gamble. Through his years working in the many departments and his affinity for trouble shooting as the plant migrated into computerized production, he was able to travel to other plant locations in California, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Mexico City. Roger was employed with Procter & Gamble until July 1998 and went into semiretirement or, as he would say, "became a bum."

Through the years, Roger had many hobbies. His greatest passion in early years was fishing and he was often known to participate and win bass fishing tournaments in Missouri and other states. After a cross-country motorcycle trip with his brother, Roger was bitten by the motorcycle riding bug and from that moment on, he was always searching for the next best ride, for, as he often said, "it's not the destination, it's all about the ride." He is a member in current good standing of AMA and past director, educator and current Motorist Awareness Coordinator for Goldwing Road Riders Association, Chapter I, in Jackson.

He is a daily subscriber and reader of the LDRider and WOTI motorcycling Internet forums. He is a respected inductee into the Iron Butt Association having completed a Bun Burner 1500 and Saddle Sore 1000. He has received his Tip to Tip Certificate having ridden Prince Edward Island numerous times. Upon his marriage to Marlene in Hawaii, he became a Certified Rider in Paradise and met his personal goal to ride in all 50 states on a motorcycle. Marlene and Roger then set a quest to ride all 50 states together on a motorcycle and completed that in 2007, on his signature, yellow 1800 Honda Goldwing with Tweety Bird on the trunk.

Roger didn't fully appreciate his God-given gift of service. To him, it was just the way he lived. But to thousands of people he was an inspiration, a mentor and a fun loving friend. He served on the board of the Fruitland Area Fire Department in the early 1980s, serving in that capacity almost 10 years. He was appointed as a board member of the Cape Girardeau Senior Center and after completing his term limit, became their volunteer computer technician. He was a Patriot Guard Rider in honor of deceased soldiers including a neighbor and one of his own family members who died for our country. He was a member of Jack Henry American Legion Post 1 in Anchorage, Alaska.

For the past seven years at least, Roger has volunteered to prepare taxes working through the free AARP tax preparation program with the last three years serving as the local director of services. For the past 14 years, he along with his GWRRA Chapter I, Missouri participants also hosted a free Memorial Day Coffee Break for travelers at the Interstate 55 rest stops outside of Fruitland. Many people do not know that Roger is a published author, having short stories printed in "Heroic Stories and Not Your Mother's Book … On Stupid Kids." Another of his stories was selected to be published in "Not Your Mother's Book … On Cats," which is due for release this year.

On Nov. 10, 2013, it was announced that Roger was one of 26 winners of the 2013 Lieutenant Governor's Veterans Service award and was to be honored with a luncheon in Jefferson City, Missouri. This award by Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder recognizes Missouri veterans who provide exemplary (volunteer) service to their communities.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

A celebration of life service will begin at 7 p.m. with the Rev. David Thompson officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cape Girardeau Senior Center, 921 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Condolences may be sent to the family online by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.