Michael E. Riley

Michael “Mike” Riley, 65, of Karnak, Illinois, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, surrounded by his son and immediate family, after a courageous battle with cancer. Mike was born July 22, 1960, in Anna, Illinois, to Donald and Katherine (Annable) Riley. He lived his entire life near Karnak and in every way that matters, Karnak and all of Pulaski County lived in him. He was a 1978 graduate of Century High School and attended Shawnee Community College. Work and service defined Mike’s life from the very beginning. As a young man, he mowed yards and did landscaping for Charles Main in Karnak. Through high school he worked at Cheek’s Service Station, owned by the family of his lifelong best friend, David Cheek. He went on to serve at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department under Sheriff Rusty Dakin, and he spent the majority of his career at Shawnee Correctional Center in Vienna, Illinois, retiring in 2010 with the rank of lieutenant. But no job title ever came close to describing all that Mike did. He served as volunteer fire chief of the Karnak Fire Department, where some of his son’s earliest and happiest memories were made riding on the fire trucks beside him. He gave his time to the boards of Ohio River Byways, the Olmsted Historical Society, and the Mound City National Cemetery Preservation Commission, because he believed the history of southern Illinois was worth preserving and its people were worth serving. Mike could fix nearly anything, and he seemed to know something about everything and everyone. Nearly every evening, he could be found at a restaurant somewhere in Pulaski County, less for the meal than for the fellowship. It was simply how he stayed connected to the people he loved. He gave his time generously and expected nothing in return, and even in his final months he carried his illness the way he carried everything else in life: quietly, without complaint, never asking for help, and always thinking of others first. That selflessness defined him. One of Mike’s great passions was Republican politics, particularly in southern Illinois. He worked tirelessly for candidates who shared his values and became a man many relied upon for guidance, strategy, and support in the southernmost counties. A passion he was proud to share with his son. Above all else, Mike was a devoted father. He taught his son, Adam, to be honest, to work hard, to obey the law, and to help those in need. He lived every one of those lessons himself. He encouraged Adam to dream big, supported him through law school, and never stopped telling people how immensely proud he was of the man his son had become. In his later years, Mike became a born-again Christian, and from that day forward his life centered on two things: Jesus Christ and his grandchildren. He was fully committed to the Word of God and to the saving grace of Christ, and he shared his faith with everyone he met, from Karnak to the halls of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. For many years, Mike prayed for a grandson, and he never stopped thanking God for giving him twice what he asked for. And in Saylor, who came into his life when she was five years old, he received a granddaughter he loved and accepted completely as his own — because to Mike, that is exactly what she was. His greatest joy was his three grandchildren, Henry, Jack, and Saylor. His fondest dream was to take the boys camping, to teach them everything he knew, and to watch all three of them grow up. Though his time with them was far too short, everything he stood for lives on in the family he raised and the community he served. Mike is survived by his son, Adam (Sarah) Riley; his three grandchildren, Henry, Jack, and Saylor Riley; his sister, Trina (Michael) Earnhart; his nephews, Brian Earnhart, Eric (Abby) Earnhart, and James (Amanda) McClellan; his niece, Tiffany (Joshua) Reagor; and many great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Katherine Riley, and by his grandparents, Frealin and June Riley and Alvin and Lillie Annable. Mike would want everyone to know that, through the promise of Jesus Christ, this is not goodbye forever. He believed that he will see his family and friends again. In his memory, his family asks this of you: if you do not know the Lord as your Savior, say a prayer, attend a church, or reach out to his family. Nothing would honor Mike Riley more. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna, Illinois. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Bailey Funeral Home, with additional visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Pastor Bruce Hall will officiate. Burial will be in the Cypress Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.

Michael E. Riley

July 22, 1960 - July 18, 2026