Philip Arthur Riley Jr., Md

Philip Arthur Riley, Jr. died the morning of All Saints Day after a brief hospitalization. Dr. Riley was born in Jackson, Michigan, on September 4, 1925, raised in Jackson and Clark Lake, Michigan, and graduated from St. Mary's High School, the University of Michigan, and the University of South Dakota and St. Louis University medical schools. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. Trained in St. Louis as a thoracic and vascular surgeon, he served on the staff of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and long had privileges at Jackson's Mercy and W. A. Foote Memorial Hospitals. Between opening his private practice in Jackson in 1957 and his retirement in 1991, he held positions as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery and was a member or Chair of Professional and Executive committees at both hospitals; he served several years on the Foote Hospital Board of Directors. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of Jackson County and Michigan Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. He was a life-long member and former board member of the Country Club of Jackson..

His was usually the authoritative last word in any of his many arenas: Operating room, board room, golf green or dinner table, with his keen mind, photographic memory, quick but genial wit, and encyclopedic knowledge of medicine, history, college and professional football, golf, family, art, opera, and popular music (well, pre-1965 popular music). He also had a curious predilection for middle names.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joane Boling Riley, his parents, Loretta (O'Meara) and Philip A. Riley, Sr., his brother and sister-in-law, Martin and Denise Riley, and sister and brother-in-law Loretta and John Lambert. Dr. Riley is survived by his five children: Angela (Michael) François, Camille Riley, Philip (Par) Riley, Matthew (Melissa) Riley, and Lisa Riley; his children's children: Michael (Stacey) François, Rachel (Alex) Troncoso, Genevieve (Joshua) Kahr, Katherine (Phil Wall) Riley, Philip (Kendra) Riley, John (Alison) Riley, David (Danny Rua) Riley, Margaret, James, and William Riley; and his great-grandchildren: Gabrielle and Natalie François; Angela and James Troncoso; Aurora, Lorelei, and Cordelia Kahr; Dovelynn, Sloane and Philip V Riley; Henry and Baby Riley; and Calen Riley Wall.

He will be well-remembered by hundreds of patients, colleagues, co-workers, employees and relatives as someone who treated them with genuine respect, affection and generosity. He will also be remembered for his significant patronage of Catholic education and causes, including Queen's and St. Rita's Parishes, Lumen Christi, the IHM Sisters and St. Louis University.

The family will receive friends at St. Rita Catholic Church on Saturday, November 5 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 11:00 AM at St. Rita Catholic Church, Clarklake, with Father Thomas Helfrich, O.S.F.S. officiating. Private interment will be held at St. John Catholic Cemetery.

The family would be honored by memorial donations to the charity of your choice, or any of the institutions listed above.

Desnoyer Funeral Home
Family Owned For 132 Years