William Ray "Daisy" Riley, 93, passed December 31, 2018. The Rosary will be prayed at 4:30 p.m. followed by Visitation 5-8 p.m. on Friday, January 4, at Passantino Bros. Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass will be 9 a.m. Saturday, January 5, at Nativity of Mary Catholic Church, 10017 E. 36 ^th Terr., Independence, MO 64052, followed by cremation.

William Ray was born June 3, 1925, in Augusta, MO. His family shortly moved to Gasconade, MO, where he attended grade school. William attended Hermann High school where he loved to play basketball. He loved to coach and referee basketball. After high school he enlisted in the Merchant Marines and served our country during WWII.  After service he returned home and married the love of his life, Laura Mae Boss of Morrison, MO.  They were married on February 12, 1949, they had two children Bradley Wayne and Carla Rae and spent 69 years together. He continued to coach and referee basketball, he even refereed the Harlem Globetrotters.  William worked for the  Missouri Pacific Railroad for 10 years.  After working for the railroad, he went to work for T.O.X truck line and retired after 35 years. During this time, they had moved to the Wagon Wheel Mobile Trailer Park in Kansas City, where they established their home.  He helped build the trailer park by hand, he did everything that it took to make this place into a home for 40 families. In 1988, they became the owners of Wagon Wheel Mobile Park.

William loved to go to the river and fish with his family and he loved to work. In retirement you would always find him riding his "John Deere" tractor, wearing his overalls and working. William was not a man of many words, but when he spoke, you listened because he always had something important to say.

His reason for living was his family.

William was preceded in death by his parents, William and Daisy Riley; his sister, Edith Perkins; his brother, Calvin Riley; his sister, Ruth Waggoner; and his son-in-law, Perry Scheuerman. He is survived by his wife, Laura Mae Riley; two children Brad Riley (Martha) of Sharpsburg, IA;  Carla Brewer (James) of Kansas City, MO; eight grandchildren, Megan Weaver (Brady), Danielle Reyes, Colin Riley, Joshua Scheuerman (Kimberly), Shawna Bulloc (Jeremy), Michelle Stover (John), Jacob Riley, Ryan Brewer (Jen); 16 great-grandchildren, Maverick Griffin, Nathaniel Reyes, Rylan Weaver, Miah Reyes, Makena Stover, Jocelyn Weaver, Mary Riley, Coleman Bulloc, Gavin Stover, Cash Bulloc, Alexia Weaver, Vivienne Bulloc, Alyssa Weaver, Lillian Scheuerman, William Scheuerman, and Michael Riley.

You will be sadly missed by family and friends - We Love You

Condolences may be offered at www.passantionbros.com