Lee R. Riley, 95, died at home, December 23, 2013. He was born October 3, 1918, on the family ranch near Lamar, Colorado, to Lee R. Riley, Sr., & Ella Rose (Stuckey) Riley. He attended a one-room school house near the ranch through the 7th grade. He graduated from Lamar High School in 1938. He lived with his sister in Wichita, Kansas, while going to his beloved Wichita State Univ. He was a member of the Blue Key National Honor Society and Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He graduated in 1942 with a B.A. in geology. While in college, he met his wife, Ethel Carolyn McMahon, and they were married on February 14, 1942.
Lee entered active military service with basic training at Camp Robertson, Arkansas, and Office Training School at Camp Davis, North Carolina. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and stationed with his unit at Camp Edwards, Mass., during WWII. Lee trained personnel, participated in the Tennessee Maneuvers and then embarked for Europe. He entered France with Patton's 3rd Army, moved across France and Germany and entered Nuremberg on VE day. He spent a period of time relocating former POW's and displaced persons to their native countries. His outfit transported food and other supplies to relocation camps. He returned to the USA in Nov. of 1945 with a Bronze Star and was honorably discharged in Jan. 1946.
He went to work for Carter Oil Company as a geologist in Wichita, KS, and after 2 years transferred to Ardmore, OK, in 1948, during the oil boom. He was the district manager when Carter Oil Co. became a part of Humble Oil and Refining Co. In 1965, the Ardmore office was closed and consolidated to Oklahoma City where Lee became an exploration manager. After 5 years, he took an early retirement and became an independent geologist.
While living in Ardmore, Lee was President of the Lions Club, headed the United Fund, was Vice President of the YMCA Board of Directors and coached little league baseball. He was member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists since 1954, a member of the Ardmore Geology Society in 1956, a member of the Society of Independent Earth Scientists, an ordained Deacon, Elder and Trustee in the Presbyterian Church, and was a docent at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
He and Carolyn were married for 56 years before her passing in 1998. They both loved to play golf, travel and took extensive trips, visiting all the continents except for Antarctica. For 11 years they treasured the family ski trips to Colorado the day after Christmas.
He is survived by his four children: Pat Simmons & husband Ken of Tulsa and their children Duke Simmons & wife Wendy, their children Scarlett, Noah, Isaac and Milady of Bixby; Laura LaBlue & husband Brent, their children Aston and Faith of Blackwell; Alan Simmons of Dallas; Jean Dunlap & husband Baillie of Oklahoma City and their children Leah Leckness of Midwest City and Genevieve Smith & husband Dallas and their children Dalton, Elle and Rhett of Newcastle; Mike Riley of Oklahoma City and his children Michael & wife Kristi of Oklahoma City, Kevin of Oklahoma City and Jennifer Himes & husband Nate of Yukon; and Janet Earlywine & husband Art and their child Sarah Edwards & husband Bryan of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The family asks in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Wichita State Univ. Foundation, Hospice Quality Care, or the charity of your choice. Viewing will be 12pm to 8pm, Sunday. Memorial services will be 11:00 am, Monday, December 30, 2013, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City.
Published in The Oklahoman on Dec. 27, 2013.
Lee entered active military service with basic training at Camp Robertson, Arkansas, and Office Training School at Camp Davis, North Carolina. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and stationed with his unit at Camp Edwards, Mass., during WWII. Lee trained personnel, participated in the Tennessee Maneuvers and then embarked for Europe. He entered France with Patton's 3rd Army, moved across France and Germany and entered Nuremberg on VE day. He spent a period of time relocating former POW's and displaced persons to their native countries. His outfit transported food and other supplies to relocation camps. He returned to the USA in Nov. of 1945 with a Bronze Star and was honorably discharged in Jan. 1946.
He went to work for Carter Oil Company as a geologist in Wichita, KS, and after 2 years transferred to Ardmore, OK, in 1948, during the oil boom. He was the district manager when Carter Oil Co. became a part of Humble Oil and Refining Co. In 1965, the Ardmore office was closed and consolidated to Oklahoma City where Lee became an exploration manager. After 5 years, he took an early retirement and became an independent geologist.
While living in Ardmore, Lee was President of the Lions Club, headed the United Fund, was Vice President of the YMCA Board of Directors and coached little league baseball. He was member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists since 1954, a member of the Ardmore Geology Society in 1956, a member of the Society of Independent Earth Scientists, an ordained Deacon, Elder and Trustee in the Presbyterian Church, and was a docent at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
He and Carolyn were married for 56 years before her passing in 1998. They both loved to play golf, travel and took extensive trips, visiting all the continents except for Antarctica. For 11 years they treasured the family ski trips to Colorado the day after Christmas.
He is survived by his four children: Pat Simmons & husband Ken of Tulsa and their children Duke Simmons & wife Wendy, their children Scarlett, Noah, Isaac and Milady of Bixby; Laura LaBlue & husband Brent, their children Aston and Faith of Blackwell; Alan Simmons of Dallas; Jean Dunlap & husband Baillie of Oklahoma City and their children Leah Leckness of Midwest City and Genevieve Smith & husband Dallas and their children Dalton, Elle and Rhett of Newcastle; Mike Riley of Oklahoma City and his children Michael & wife Kristi of Oklahoma City, Kevin of Oklahoma City and Jennifer Himes & husband Nate of Yukon; and Janet Earlywine & husband Art and their child Sarah Edwards & husband Bryan of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The family asks in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Wichita State Univ. Foundation, Hospice Quality Care, or the charity of your choice. Viewing will be 12pm to 8pm, Sunday. Memorial services will be 11:00 am, Monday, December 30, 2013, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City.
Published in The Oklahoman on Dec. 27, 2013.
Lee R. Riley, 95, died at home, December 23, 2013. He was born October 3, 1918, on the family ranch near Lamar, Colorado, to Lee R. Riley, Sr., & Ella Rose (Stuckey) Riley. He attended a one-room school house near the ranch through the 7th grade. He graduated from Lamar High School in 1938. He lived with his sister in Wichita, Kansas, while going to his beloved Wichita State Univ. He was a member of the Blue Key National Honor Society and Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. He graduated in 1942 with a B.A. in geology. While in college, he met his wife, Ethel Carolyn McMahon, and they were married on February 14, 1942.
Lee entered active military service with basic training at Camp Robertson, Arkansas, and Office Training School at Camp Davis, North Carolina. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and stationed with his unit at Camp Edwards, Mass., during WWII. Lee trained personnel, participated in the Tennessee Maneuvers and then embarked for Europe. He entered France with Patton's 3rd Army, moved across France and Germany and entered Nuremberg on VE day. He spent a period of time relocating former POW's and displaced persons to their native countries. His outfit transported food and other supplies to relocation camps. He returned to the USA in Nov. of 1945 with a Bronze Star and was honorably discharged in Jan. 1946.
He went to work for Carter Oil Company as a geologist in Wichita, KS, and after 2 years transferred to Ardmore, OK, in 1948, during the oil boom. He was the district manager when Carter Oil Co. became a part of Humble Oil and Refining Co. In 1965, the Ardmore office was closed and consolidated to Oklahoma City where Lee became an exploration manager. After 5 years, he took an early retirement and became an independent geologist.
While living in Ardmore, Lee was President of the Lions Club, headed the United Fund, was Vice President of the YMCA Board of Directors and coached little league baseball. He was member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists since 1954, a member of the Ardmore Geology Society in 1956, a member of the Society of Independent Earth Scientists, an ordained Deacon, Elder and Trustee in the Presbyterian Church, and was a docent at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
He and Carolyn were married for 56 years before her passing in 1998. They both loved to play golf, travel and took extensive trips, visiting all the continents except for Antarctica. For 11 years they treasured the family ski trips to Colorado the day after Christmas.
He is survived by his four children: Pat Simmons & husband Ken of Tulsa and their children Duke Simmons & wife Wendy, their children Scarlett, Noah, Isaac and Milady of Bixby; Laura LaBlue & husband Brent, their children Aston and Faith of Blackwell; Alan Simmons of Dallas; Jean Dunlap & husband Baillie of Oklahoma City and their children Leah Leckness of Midwest City and Genevieve Smith & husband Dallas and their children Dalton, Elle and Rhett of Newcastle; Mike Riley of Oklahoma City and his children Michael & wife Kristi of Oklahoma City, Kevin of Oklahoma City and Jennifer Himes & husband Nate of Yukon; and Janet Earlywine & husband Art and their child Sarah Edwards & husband Bryan of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The family asks in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Wichita State Univ. Foundation, Hospice Quality Care, or the charity of your choice. Viewing will be 12pm to 8pm, Sunday. Memorial services will be 11:00 am, Monday, December 30, 2013, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City.
Published in The Oklahoman on Dec. 27, 2013.
Lee entered active military service with basic training at Camp Robertson, Arkansas, and Office Training School at Camp Davis, North Carolina. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and stationed with his unit at Camp Edwards, Mass., during WWII. Lee trained personnel, participated in the Tennessee Maneuvers and then embarked for Europe. He entered France with Patton's 3rd Army, moved across France and Germany and entered Nuremberg on VE day. He spent a period of time relocating former POW's and displaced persons to their native countries. His outfit transported food and other supplies to relocation camps. He returned to the USA in Nov. of 1945 with a Bronze Star and was honorably discharged in Jan. 1946.
He went to work for Carter Oil Company as a geologist in Wichita, KS, and after 2 years transferred to Ardmore, OK, in 1948, during the oil boom. He was the district manager when Carter Oil Co. became a part of Humble Oil and Refining Co. In 1965, the Ardmore office was closed and consolidated to Oklahoma City where Lee became an exploration manager. After 5 years, he took an early retirement and became an independent geologist.
While living in Ardmore, Lee was President of the Lions Club, headed the United Fund, was Vice President of the YMCA Board of Directors and coached little league baseball. He was member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists since 1954, a member of the Ardmore Geology Society in 1956, a member of the Society of Independent Earth Scientists, an ordained Deacon, Elder and Trustee in the Presbyterian Church, and was a docent at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
He and Carolyn were married for 56 years before her passing in 1998. They both loved to play golf, travel and took extensive trips, visiting all the continents except for Antarctica. For 11 years they treasured the family ski trips to Colorado the day after Christmas.
He is survived by his four children: Pat Simmons & husband Ken of Tulsa and their children Duke Simmons & wife Wendy, their children Scarlett, Noah, Isaac and Milady of Bixby; Laura LaBlue & husband Brent, their children Aston and Faith of Blackwell; Alan Simmons of Dallas; Jean Dunlap & husband Baillie of Oklahoma City and their children Leah Leckness of Midwest City and Genevieve Smith & husband Dallas and their children Dalton, Elle and Rhett of Newcastle; Mike Riley of Oklahoma City and his children Michael & wife Kristi of Oklahoma City, Kevin of Oklahoma City and Jennifer Himes & husband Nate of Yukon; and Janet Earlywine & husband Art and their child Sarah Edwards & husband Bryan of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The family asks in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Wichita State Univ. Foundation, Hospice Quality Care, or the charity of your choice. Viewing will be 12pm to 8pm, Sunday. Memorial services will be 11:00 am, Monday, December 30, 2013, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City.
Published in The Oklahoman on Dec. 27, 2013.
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