James Matthew Riley

Friday, Dec. 12, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — James Matthew (Jim) Riley, 88, passed away from heart disease Nov. 15, 2014. 

Riley was born in Dolan Hospital in Worthington, Minn. on May 25, 1926 to Frank and Florence Delaney Riley. He met Ruth Jane McConnell and they were married on Jan. 29, 1949 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Brewster, Minn. He earned a degree in chemical engineering. He worked for 25 years with the Bureau of Mines, working on research and mining projects throughout the country. 

Riley was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, brothers Thomas Riley and Phillip Riley, and son-in-law Leo Embry.   

He is survived by his daughters: Catherine (Bob) Lambert, Mary Ellen, Jane (Hugh) Brown, Joan, Rita Embry, Sara (Paul) Colosimo and Trudi (Jim) Frenchik; sister Sally Fairchild Nordstrom; 16 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.