Dr. Richard D Corley MD, DDS

Dr. Corley was a highly respected board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon.

Born on March 21, 1930, to Paul and Vera (Hoobler) Corley; he married the former Barbara Lue on September 4, 1954 in Muskegon, MI. She preceded him in death on December 24, 2014.

He was also preceded in death by his twin brother, Robert Corley, and his sister, Judith Carver.

He is survived by two children and four grandchildren.

Dr. Corely was raised with a strong sense of discipline, service, and purpose that would guide his remarkable life and career. His legacy would come to span more than five decades of medical innovation, surgical excellence, and community care.

His career was marked by an extraordinary breadth of expertise. He held board certifications as a dentist, oral surgeon, medical doctor, general surgeon, and plastic and reconstructive surgeon-making him one of only three individuals in the world known to have held all five credentials simultaneously.

He began his professional journey in dentistry, earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) before enrolling in medical school. While attending the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana, he continued to practice as a licensed dentist to support himself through his studies-a testament to his relentless determination and work ethic. After receiving his MD in 1960, he completed his surgical training at Cook County Hospital and went on to earn board certifications in both surgery and plastic surgery, in addition to his earlier dental credentials.

Dr. Corley served honorably in the United States military, where he contributed his medical skills to care for service members and further honed his surgical abilities. Following his service, he returned to Peoria and built a respected private practice of talented medical professionals. Over the years, he became a cornerstone of the Peoria medical community and a trusted expert in the most challenging reconstructive procedure.

Admired by patients and colleagues alike, Dr. Corley was known for his surgical precision, his forthright manner, and his deep commitment to patient care. While his demeanor was often serious, his compassion was reflected in the thousands of lives he touched-many of whom credited him with changing or saving their lives.

Dr. Corley’s legacy will live on in the high standards he set, the care he gave, and the example he leaves behind for future generations of medical professionals.

He was a member of the Peoria Apostolic Christian Church.

Private services were entrusted to the Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice home in his memory.