Melvin "Kenny" Riley

Melvin "Kenny" Riley, born to Marinda Riley and Melvin Riley on November 23, 1950. He grew up on North End in Hamilton. Kenny attended Madison Elementary, Harding Junior High and graduated in 1969 from Hamilton Garfield Senior High School. There he met Diana Poynter, and they quickly knew they would spend the rest of their lives together. They married on September 2, 1972. Kenny served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War on the USS Schenectady LST 1185.

He was a member of Cherry Valley Baptist Church and St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church in later years. Kenny had many different jobs over the years, but his hobby and love was cooking and creating dishes that everyone would enjoy. Most who met him knew him as a kind and gentle man who cared about those around him even if he barely knew them. He was a Christian and loved his God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Over the past several years, he endured kidney disease and many other health issues, which he handled with endurance and determination to fight for life. Kenny fought a long hard battle and convinced many people, nurses, and doctors that there is not only power in prayer, but that miracles do happen. He had many miracles and was nicknamed "Superman."

However, on October 15, 2010 Kenny lost that painful battle and went to be with his Lord and Savior and to be free from his pain and frail body. He is in good company of many who have gone on before.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Marinda Riley Smith; father, Melvin Riley; stepfather and father to Kenny, George Smith; his niece, Sandy Helton; nephews Michael Turner, Brian Helton, and Eric Helton; uncle Seldon Estep, who for many years was a surrogate father; brother-in-law, Lawrance Stidham; and many other aunts and uncles in both the Riley and Turner families. Kenny is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 38 years, Diana Poynter Riley; sons, Travis Riley and Ryan (Jaime) Riley; loving granddaughter, Loren Riley; sisters, Kathleen (Ronald) Helton and Joanna Stidham; brother, Brown (Debby) Turner; nephews Scott and Jeff Helton, Larry David (Tammy) Stidham, Greg Turner and Steven Turner; and a niece, Tammy Jo (Mark) Mitchell. Ken also had many friends he gathered over the years while attending, coaching, and umpiring his sons’ baseball games as well as his involvement with the Boy Scouts, co-workers over the years, and neighbors. He loved life, his family and friends and we all love him and will miss him in this world, but look forward to the day we meet up with him again.

Many, many thanks to the most wonderful group of nurses, techs, doctors, and everyone else who were Ken’s caregivers at Fort Hamilton ICU, IMC, 5 Main, lab techs, Respiratory, and Dietary for your excellent care but most of all for respecting his wishes and helping him realize those wishes. He loved all of you, as I do. He could not have made it this far without your expertise and caring touch.

Funeral service will be held at the Brown-Dawson Funeral Home, 1350 Millville Avenue, on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 1:00 PM with Pastor Don Dewey of St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Butler County Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM.