Dr. Carol Riley

Dr. Carol Riley, loving mom and devoted friend, died unexpectedly on July 25, 2008, at the age of 48.

Carol graduated summa cum laude from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Biology in 1982, receiving grades of A for every class except for a single B, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She then obtained a Master's Degree in Accounting and worked as a CPA for many years. Carol left her career to return to Colorado State and earned a Ph.D. in Ecology in 2001. Carol could have maintained her career and salary while working on a certificate or online degree, but Carol always strived for excellence and insisted on a real Ph.D. degree.

Carol was employed as an Instructor at the Kenosha campus of Gateway Technical College. She cared very deeply for all of her students and loved learning in any form; staying current in her fields of instruction - physiology and anatomy - was also very important to her. Carol was an avid horse rider and also enjoyed the outdoors through walks and gardening activities. She loved animals and provided a home for cockatiels, cats and a big Airedale named Barney. Carol also loved to read both fiction and non-fiction titles and often devoured a dozen or more in a single month. She was an enthusiastic musical theater fan and shared that passion with her children. She supported the arts in many forms in the Racine area and was also a member of the Caledonia Conservancy. Carol and her children were Friends and attending supporters of Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church in Racine.

Carol is survived by her two beloved children, Emma and Ethan, and her sister Susanne in California. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please consider a donation to an educational fund that is being set up at Johnson Bank for the children.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, at Olympia Brown.