1944
Max
2017
Max L. "Mike" Riley, Jr.
August 30, 1944 — February 25, 2017
Max L. “Mike” Riley, 72, of Monroe went on to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, February 25, after a long struggle with cancer.
Mike, the only child of Max and Maxine Riley was born in 1944 in Palestine, TX. A resident of Monroe since 1949, he attended Sherrouse Elementary, Lexington Elementary, North Monroe (now Lee) Jr. High, and Neville High School where he was the 1962 student body president. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a business degree in 1967. In 1965 he and his high school sweetheart, Mignon Scogin, were married at Parkview Baptist Church. Mike worked during high school as a lifeguard at the Swayze Natatorium in Forsythe Park, worked for many years in the insurance industry and Howard Brothers’ Discount Stores before going into business with his father. The final 15 years of his career were spent joyfully at John Rea Realty.
He and his wife, Mignon, are charter members of Forsythe Avenue Church of Christ where he served as worship leader, deacon, and for twenty-nine years as elder—ten of which were alongside his father, Max.
Mike was very active in the Monroe social and cultural life. He was on the board of directors of Bayou DeSiard Country Club, Monroe Scholars Banquet, the Salvation Army, and is a longtime member and past president of the Rotary Club of Monroe, as well as being involved with many other organizations. He acted in numerous productions of the Strauss Playhouse and sang competitively in the “Southern Comfort” barbershop quartet as well as singing in the Monroe Masterworks Chorus. On a cold night in February of 1982, he dove alone into the dark, frigid waters of Bayou DeSiard to successfully rescue a young mother from her pickup truck after her husband had driven off of what was then the Forsythe dam. He and Mignon loved motorcycling with each other and with friends, and have ridden their Harley-Davidson on numerous long trips to Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and the Dakotas.
Mike is preceded in death by his mother, Maxine; and father, Max Riley; and step mother, JoAnn Sager Riley. He is survived by Mignon, his wife of 51+ years; son, Kevin Riley and wife Verena of Pearisburg, Virginia; his daughter, Sarah Stirman and her husband Troy of McKinney, Texas; and grandchildren, Ashley and Riley Stirman and Max, Micah, and Ben Riley. Survivors also include step-mother, Marion Usrey Riley; step-sister, Linda Usrey Griffin; and step brothers, Tommy Usrey, and Mike, Harlan, and Bernard Sager.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 from 5-7 p.m. at Mulhearn Funeral Home on Hwy 165 N. in Monroe. Funeral services will take place at Forsythe Avenue Church of Christ in Monroe at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2017 with Mr. John Dobbs officiating. Graveside services will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery, Hwy 80 East, Monroe.
A special thanks to Dr. Steven Waguespack and the staff of M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center in Houston, Texas and to Dr. Chuck Morgan and Carolynn Collier of the Morgan Medical Clinic.
Memorials may be made to: Forsythe Avenue Church of Christ, M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center, Ouachita Christian School, or the charity of your choice.
Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA
Mike, the only child of Max and Maxine Riley was born in 1944 in Palestine, TX. A resident of Monroe since 1949, he attended Sherrouse Elementary, Lexington Elementary, North Monroe (now Lee) Jr. High, and Neville High School where he was the 1962 student body president. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a business degree in 1967. In 1965 he and his high school sweetheart, Mignon Scogin, were married at Parkview Baptist Church. Mike worked during high school as a lifeguard at the Swayze Natatorium in Forsythe Park, worked for many years in the insurance industry and Howard Brothers’ Discount Stores before going into business with his father. The final 15 years of his career were spent joyfully at John Rea Realty.
He and his wife, Mignon, are charter members of Forsythe Avenue Church of Christ where he served as worship leader, deacon, and for twenty-nine years as elder—ten of which were alongside his father, Max.
Mike was very active in the Monroe social and cultural life. He was on the board of directors of Bayou DeSiard Country Club, Monroe Scholars Banquet, the Salvation Army, and is a longtime member and past president of the Rotary Club of Monroe, as well as being involved with many other organizations. He acted in numerous productions of the Strauss Playhouse and sang competitively in the “Southern Comfort” barbershop quartet as well as singing in the Monroe Masterworks Chorus. On a cold night in February of 1982, he dove alone into the dark, frigid waters of Bayou DeSiard to successfully rescue a young mother from her pickup truck after her husband had driven off of what was then the Forsythe dam. He and Mignon loved motorcycling with each other and with friends, and have ridden their Harley-Davidson on numerous long trips to Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and the Dakotas.
Mike is preceded in death by his mother, Maxine; and father, Max Riley; and step mother, JoAnn Sager Riley. He is survived by Mignon, his wife of 51+ years; son, Kevin Riley and wife Verena of Pearisburg, Virginia; his daughter, Sarah Stirman and her husband Troy of McKinney, Texas; and grandchildren, Ashley and Riley Stirman and Max, Micah, and Ben Riley. Survivors also include step-mother, Marion Usrey Riley; step-sister, Linda Usrey Griffin; and step brothers, Tommy Usrey, and Mike, Harlan, and Bernard Sager.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 from 5-7 p.m. at Mulhearn Funeral Home on Hwy 165 N. in Monroe. Funeral services will take place at Forsythe Avenue Church of Christ in Monroe at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 2, 2017 with Mr. John Dobbs officiating. Graveside services will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery, Hwy 80 East, Monroe.
A special thanks to Dr. Steven Waguespack and the staff of M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center in Houston, Texas and to Dr. Chuck Morgan and Carolynn Collier of the Morgan Medical Clinic.
Memorials may be made to: Forsythe Avenue Church of Christ, M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center, Ouachita Christian School, or the charity of your choice.
Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Max L. "Mike" Riley, Jr., please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Mulhearn Funeral Home - Monroe
Service
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
Forsythe Avenue Church of Christ
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