Extracted from The Tuscaloosa News (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Thursday, January 1, 1942

Death Claims E. C. Riley, 63

Retired Railroad Employe Succumbs in Columbus, Miss.

Everett C. Riley, 63, better known to his friends as “Shorty” Riley, died early today at the home of a son, Clyde Riley, at Columbus, Miss. Mr. Riley was born near West Blocton in Bibb County in 1876 but spent 40 years of his life as a resident of Tuscaloosa County.

He was employed by the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company for a period of 40 years, serving as wrecker foreman for 30 years. He retired in 1939 and went to live with his son in June, 1941.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Ida C. Riley, a son Clyde Riley, both of Columbus, a daughter, Mrs. F. W. Caton, of Augusta, Ga., a brother, Kelly R. Riley, of Columbus, and a sisters, Mrs. Annie L. Robertson, Tuscaloosa County health nurse. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from the Jones and Spigener Chapel with Dr. Warner Hall officiating assisted by Dr. T. E. Bateman of Columbus. Mr. Riley was a member of the First Presbyterian church of Tuscaloosa.

Active pallbearers for the funeral will be Jack Craig, L. M. Richards, Wilford Hubbard, Festus Shamblin, Preston Mathews and Ralph Alexander.

Honorary pallbearers will include Frank Livingston, Carter Tinsley, Pete Mathews, Dr. S. T. Hardin, Dr. J. E. Shirley, Dr. W. G. Shamblin, Grady Jones, Will Wright, John Shepherd, L. E. Gorman, Bill Rainey, Tom Appleyard, Crawford Hayes, A. F. Robinson, Floyd Robertson, Murphy Gorman, Norfleet Harris, Dr. H. G. Dowling, W. P. Lewis, Thomas Gunter, Fred Clamus and John Stephens.