Robert Victor Riley, age 70, of Adair County, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Robert, Bob or Bobby to his close friends and family, was born on August 11, 1955, in Kirksville, MO.

Growing up, Bob was a part-time paper boy for Adair Distributers and later in life was employed by J. Burdman Auto Parts, Golden Eagle Distributing (A-B Budweiser District), Jones Dx Service, Troy Mills Auto Service and Jim Robertson Chevrolet until his retirement.

During his retirement Bob helped neighbors and friends doing odd jobs until he “finally wore out,” at which time he moved to Foristell, MO and lived in an apartment on his eldest niece’s quarter horse farm. Bob would joke and say that he “had his own stall.” Bob didn’t know a stranger and was a great storyteller. He enjoyed practical jokes, watching movies, home cooked meals and was always smiling and laughing. One of Bob’s favorite movies was White Lightening and this quote, “Only two things in the world I’m scared of; women and the police.” Bob admitted that he had messed with both, and it took him a long time to learn his lesson, he would then say, “In the words of Forrest Gump, that’s all I got to say about that.”

Bob is survived by his older sister, Brenda (Tom) Jaeger of Bridgeton, MO, and his nieces Brenda (Jason) Wasser of Foristell, MO, Sara (Brian Mazzotta - partner) Jaeger of Ladue, MO, Catie (Wilbur Quincy - partner) Whitaker of Ewing, MO and Chrissie (Nick) Jacobson, of Ewing, MO, his great nephews and nieces, JJ Wasser, Jaxon Franklin, Dannika Yonker, Riley Yonker, Jace Franklin, Ella Mazzotta, Brayden Yonker and Ellie Jacobson, and his good friends Sonya Smith and Jeramy Shaver and family.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Mary Riley and his eldest sister, Barb Whitaker.

A Memorial Service will be held at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, Missouri on Friday, May 15, 2026 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

“I was pretty onery and played hard and I also worked hard with my dad on the farm and all the other jobs. I also had a hell of a lot of fun with all my friends and people I met along the way, a lot of really great friends. Girlfriends? Well, I will leave that up to them to say, sorta like Julio and Willy, I loved them all!”

That’s all folks,
~ Robert Victor Riley
(Long, Old Time Menace of Adair County)