08/25/2025
Sidney Kent ‘Sid’ Riley
1943-2025
Sidney Kent “Sid” Riley hit the ultimate jackpot August 14, 2025, when he walked through the gates of heaven. After a lengthy battle with cancer, he passed peacefully while surrounded by family in his home.
Sid entered the world March 24, 1943 as the middle child of Julius and Ruth Riley of Canton, Illinois. He kept his older brother, Phillip, on his toes and looked out for his younger sister, Normalee. Sid’s Mom affectionately called him “Siddie Biddie.” He graduated from Avon High School. He often joked that he was in the top 30 of his class, then with a grin, said that there were only 31 graduates. Sid attended Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tennessee and enjoyed singing in the campus quartet. His sophomore year, he transferred to Bethany Nazarene College where he met Carolyn Sue Macrory, the love of his life.
Carolyn and Sid married on August 13, 1963, and celebrated 62 years together the day before he passed. Every season was special, including the last five years of “in sickness and in health,” and most recently, “until death do us part.”
While in college at BNC, Sid and Carolyn made life-long friends who became like family. They began a progressive dinner group in 1969 and never missed a year of celebrating the group’s friendship.
Sid and Carolyn were blessed with two children, Rhonda and Rodney. Their family was one with laughter, fun and unconditional love. Everyone was welcome in the family’s home; therefore, there were countless pool parties, basketball games, slumber parties and trips to the lake. Carolyn brought the food, but Sid always brought the FUN!
Sid taught business classes at Putnam City High School, and joked about being “one page ahead of the students.” He joined the Oklahoma National Guard and served for six years. He worked for Xerox, honing his sales skills selling copy machines. His biggest career accomplishment was his “PHD,” or Pantyhose Dealer for Hanes Hosiery. He was a top salesperson and also managed successful sales teams. He was a leader who people wanted to follow because of his charismatic personality and the way he treated others.
Sid loved people and was always the life of the party. His quick wit and warm smile made everyone feel important. He could go almost anywhere in the world and find someone he knew, but if he did not know someone, he made new friends. He never met a stranger.
His grandchildren made his eyes light up and they gave him pure joy. He loved hanging out and talking with them about their interests, fishing, showing old pictures, checking out new technology and giving Papa-sized hugs.
Sid’s Christian faith was most important to him. His family finds comfort in knowing that he is fully healed and no longer in pain, singing gospel music with the saints and telling jokes with old friends.
Sid is survived by his wife, Carolyn Riley; daughter, Rhonda (Riley) Nowlin and her husband, Chris Nowlin, Bethany, OK and their children, Raker, Rory, Kylie, Thatcher, Cambree, Tanner, and Tyler; son, Rod Riley and wife, Susan, of Brentwood, TN and their children, Anna and Jack; his brother, Phil Riley of Olathe, KS; sister, Normalee Hale and husband, Lester of Hermitage, TN; and many loved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Julius, and mother, Ruth (Raker) Riley.
Sid’s family would like to thank Providence Hospice for their compassionate care in his final days.
A Celebration of Life was held on Sunday, August 24 at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene.
To share a memory or condolence, visit www.mercer-adams.com
