Riley Darrell Shands

Riley Darrell Shands, age 84 of McHenry, Illinois, passed away Friday, January 2, 2026.

He was born to Norman Arthur & Eula Alma Shands in Ripley, TN on April 27, 1941. Riley was one of eleven children: Ruth Cone (JT), Myrtle Poe (Sam), Wallace Shands (Joyce), David Shands, Dewey Shands, Ira Binkley (Bobby), Bonnie Dowell (Jerry), Roy Shands (Linda), James Shands (Nancy), and Louis Shands. They lived on a farm in western Tennessee where the family harvested a variety of vegetables and cotton.

Riley was the devoted husband of Barbara Lynn (Taylor), and together they shared over 50 years together. He is the proud and loving father to Casandra Fava (the late Carl Fava Sr.) and three grandchildren: Amanda Pearson (Kyle Danna), Carl Fava (Nicole Lucas), and Rylee Ann Fava (Kyle Wangler). He was also an awesome great-grandfather to Lydia Danna & Elliott Danna, and enjoyed visiting with his many nieces & nephews

Riley graduated from Ripley Tennessee High School. Over the years he worked a variety of jobs – and they all involved creating or repairing items (ie repairing car washes, manufacturing swimming pool panels and spas, jeep bodies and armored limousines before venturing out on his own and opening a successful fiberglass boat repair shop - Contour Fiberglas, Inc. in Antioch, Illinois).

Through the years Riley and Barb have lived in Wauconda, IL, Union Hall, VA, Southaven, MS and returned to Illinois to live in McHenry to be near family.

Outside of work and family, Riley found joy in simple pleasures shared with others – a well-played game of pool, a game of golf, a friendly game of Crazy 8’s, or an evening filled with laughter among family & friends. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, traveling around to different casinos and just watching ANY sports on TV. He even sometimes enjoyed camping with Barb and their dogs Toby, Victor, Q-tip and Emma. Riley enjoyed singing with his family as they wrote songs and played music on the front porch of the farm when the family gathered.

His spirit lives on in every shared memory, every laugh that still comes at the thought of him, and every act of kindness inspired by his example. Helping to fix something, explaining something complex, or simply listening, he did it all with patience, compassion and care.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice in Riley’s memory.

A wake will be held from 4 to 8pm on Wednesday, January 7 at Querhammer & Flagg, 500 W Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014. There will be a service at 7pm.

Burial will be private the following day at:

Acacia Park Cemetery and Mausoleum

7800 West Irving Park Road

Chicago, IL 60706