Helen Mae Riley

July 14, 1923 - June 22, 2015

FAITHORN- Helen Mae Riley age 91 of Faithorn, passed away Monday, June 22, 2015 at Cedar Hill Assisted Living in Bark River, MI. with her family at her side. She was born on July 14, 1923 in Faithorn, the daughter of the late Theron and Alma (Zerrener) Knapp. They lived about 4 miles south of Faithorn and after she was married she lived 1 mile north of Faithorn. Her whole life was in that little town. Helen married her high school sweetheart and neighbor, Lynn Riley on August 17, 1940 in Hermansville, MI. Together they worked hand in hand farming and milking cows. Lynn drove school bus for 41 years, so Helen had to finish up all the barn chores and get the children up, fed and ready for school. Helen went to Faithorn School and then graduated from Hermansville in 1940. Helen loved her little Methodist Church and she played the piano there for 33 years. When Helen was younger she also taught 4-H classes and was a member of the Faithorn Rescue Squad. She worked for years on the town elections and was always there to help for all the church and community doings. She was famous for her baked beans, if you went to a doing in Faithorn and ate baked beans, it was surely hers. Helen loved to be with people to talk and laugh. Helen was known by many and loved by all. Her family was very important to her. She would make a big meal every Sunday, just in case someone would drop in, you could never get out of her house without having something to eat. She loved reading her favorite books and watching her game shows. She was a cat lover and always had one by her side. Helen also loved going to Faithorn on Friday nights for her fish fry. Helen was known by many as the “Queen of Faithorn”, she was the oldest women in her little town (which she loved very much), but she never looked it. She has her Angel wings now. Helen traveled with her daughters on many trips across the United States, she had her first airplane ride when she was 85 years old, she was a little afraid to fly, she would say “if God wanted me to fly, he would have given me wings”, but she loved every minute of it. Helen is survived by her daughters Marjorie (William) Schmitt of Wilson and Karen (Walter) Welch of Bark River; sons David (Mary Lou) Riley of Faithorn and Larry Riley of Hermansville; 14 grandchildren Robert (Lisa), Jody, Jason (Vicky) Welch from Perronville, Kristee (Robert) Arndt and Kammi (Eric) Poehlman of Bark River, Lynn (Dan) Bradfish of Appleton, WI., Angela (Rick) Blumenschein of Wilson, William (Colleen) Schmitt of Wilson, Rebecca Dessellier of Iron Mountain, Laurie (Tom) Britton of Powers, Joel (Jimmie) Riley of Kingsford, Brenda (Joe) Sullivan of Kingsford, Jamie (Jamie) Riley of Hermansville and Jeremey (Leticia) Riley of Vulcan; 34 great grandchildren; and 1 great great grandchild. She was very blessed to have all but one of her extended family live within 30 miles of her, which includes a very special niece Pat Meiner from Powers. Helen was preceded in death by her husband Lynn in 1992, and her only sister Lois Curran in 1991. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 25 from 5-8 p.m. at the Ortman Funeral Home in Norway. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, June 26 at 11 a.m. at the Faithorn United Methodist Church with Pastor Irene White officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Faithorn. Her family would like a special thank you to O.S.F. Hospice and Cedar Hill Assisted Living in Bark River for all the wonderful care that was provided for our mother the last days of her life. Thank you, God for the wonderful 91 years she had in life and in death.