Ralph "Reily" Austin Reily

The son of Buford and Hettie Reily, Ralph was born on January 17, 1932 in Fort Worth, Texas and grew up in California where he met his sweetheart, Joan in 1949.

Ralph and Joan Reily were married on September 15, 1951. In 1952, Ralph was drafted into the army and he spent 1953-54 fighting in the Korean War. Ralph was honorably discharged from the army in September 1954 and became a painter, traveling in a trailer with Joan, son Gene, sister Patsy, and his in-laws. After a couple of years of travel, the family settled in Lancaster, California where Ralph started a trade as a mechanic and welder and daughter Sharon was born.

In 1960, the Reily family moved to Parker, Arizona. Two years later, Ralph opened Reily’s Auto Electric where he worked until just a few months prior to his death. He was well-known in the entire Parker community and did a lot of work for the farmers making sure there were extra starters and generators on the shelves ready to go.

Ralph, known by most as “Reily”, was actively involved in his community and with his friends. He loved going out in his Model T to visit friends around town. Anyone who knows Reily, and even those who don’t, will remember his Model T as he participated in nearly every parade in Parker, Big River, Quartzsite and Chloride. A charter and lifetime member of the Parker Four Wheelers, Reily enjoyed taking family and friends four-wheeling in his jeep. The Score 400 organizers contacted Reily to help set up the course and the Parker Four Wheelers spent several years helping with the race and clean-up. In addition to four-wheeling, Reily loved hunting – especially deer and elk and his friends and family will fondly remember his hunting tales and delicious camp stew.

“Papa Reily” (as his grandkids called him) loved spending time with his grandchildren and usually had one or more with him whenever he traveled anywhere. During the years of 1985-1992, Ralph and Joan took their grandkids on trips around the country, creating memories to cherish forever. They also bought a place in Chloride, where Ralph set up an antique shop. He loved his time in Chloride and traveled there as often as he could, inviting friends and family to share the fun times.

Ralph Reily was truly a man who never met a stranger. Woven throughout Reily’s life experiences, various careers, and many interests was his appreciation of life, open and generous heart, and his ability to make each individual feel special and loved.

Ralph is survived by his son Gene (Cindy) Reily Sr. of Parker, AZ, daughter Sharon (Jim) Barnes of Parker, AZ, 4 grandchildren: Gene (Jenna) Reily Jr. of Bayfield, Colorado, Penny (Jason) Martin of Bagdad AZ, Jona (Brad) Makradichian of Parker, AZ, and Amy (Bret) LoPresti of Big River, CA.; 5 great-grandchildren: Quentin, Reily, Kira, Bailey, and Lane and two nephews: Rodney Allen Reily and MarionPaul Reily Jr. both of Texas.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents Buford and Hettie Reily, younger brother Marion Paul Reily and his first born son.

Family and friends are invited to join the Celebration of Life at the Parker Community Center, 1115 12th Street and Laguna on Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 4:00 PM.