James Donald Riley

James Donald Riley (July 8, 1931 – November 9, 2021)

James was born & raised in San Francisco, CA  to James and Ethel Riley, the third of five children. 

After high school James joined the Airforce, after his discharge he went to work for United Airlines in San Francisco as a sheet metal mechanic.  He worked for United until his retirement in 1988..

James was a very kind-hearted man with a beautiful smile and gorgeous blue eyes.

In his spare time, James enjoyed hunting (with his dog Lady), and fishing.  He built a small cabin in the early 1950’s at Lake Almanor where he could enjoy the nature around him.  His extended family loved going to the cabin for vacations.  They still enjoy the same cabin today.

In 1966, James married Joyce Bonnell and adopted her daughter Corinne. 

He then began building their bay view home in Belmont.  By working nights at United & days on his home, they were able to move in by 1968.

James and Joyce were close to their grandsons Christopher and Steven and helped raise them.

They moved from Belmont to Healdsburg in 1986.  In 1998, after the boys were grown, they moved, retiring to beautiful Paradise, CA. 

Joyce passed away in 2009 leaving James alone.  Corinne moved in to help out in 2016. 

They continued to live in that home until the devastating Camp fire of November 2018 which burned his home, and one other family home he owned in Magalia, to the ground.  Luckily the other family home there didn’t burn. He lost everything he owned except the clothes on his back and the car they escaped in.  

After the fire James & his daughter lived in a 5th wheel until they purchased a new home in Grass Valley in 2019.  

Here he would spend the remainder of his life.  He enjoyed sitting on the back deck looking out over the lovely golf course.

Surrounded by beautiful landscaping, deer, various other wildlife  & his meandering family of geese.

James passed away at home with his daughter Corinne, & his son-in-law James Rowling on November 9th  2021 in Grass Valley CA at the age of 90.

James is survived by his daughter Corinne Moore, grandsons, Christopher Courtney, Steven Rowling; four great-grandchildren, Alexus, Jasmine, Sean and Gracie.

James will be laid to rest at Paradise Cemetery in Paradise alongside his late wife Joyce…. Together again.... R. I. P.  James

God Bless.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, November 22, 2021  at 11;00 A.M. at the Paradise Cemetery.

Flowers by Fuller's is the only local florist left in the area, they do lovely work.

If you would like to contact them please call 530-866-5476

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Donald Riley, please visit our floral store.