PORTLAND – Margaret Alma Riley, 98, died at St. Joseph’s Manor, Portland Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006. Born Feb. 26, 1907, in Bangor, she was the only surviving child of Almas K. Weatherbee and Mary Higgins. She graduated from St. John’s High School in Bangor, where she wrote her Senior Class Ode. Alma moved to Portland for her first job as a bookkeeper. She married James F. Riley in 1927. Mr. and Mrs. Riley were longtime and supportive parishioners of St. Joseph’s Parish, Portland. Later, they were equally involved in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Windham. The couple started their family of six children during the Depression years and Mrs. Riley designed and sewed all their clothing. Together Mr. and Mrs. Riley purchased and ran Westcustogo Inn in Yarmouth for 18 years. They were known as very affable hosts and carried on with the tradition of great food, which had been previously established. They attracted not only local patrons, but celebrities as diverse as Bette Davis and Gary Merrill and Eleanor Roosevelt and her dog, Fala. After the sale of the Inn, the couple managed several commercial properties. During this time, Alma studied cake decorating and incorporated this skill into a new venture, Alma’s Party Service. She also taught cake decorating to adults in evening classes. For years, she also assisted her husband by proofreading the tax reports he completed as a certified public accountant. Mrs. Riley had diverse interests. She loved traveling, including extensive tours of Europe. Her most recent excursion, at the age of 90, was a cruise to Alaska. Throughout her life she had a talent for using verse to express her deepest thoughts and emotions. To hone these skills, she participated in college level English courses as a senior citizen. She also enjoyed square dancing with her husband and friends. Of all her interests, nothing pleased Alma more than playing with her small-breed dogs and cradling each of her many grandchildren or great-grandchildren as newborns. Mrs. Riley was predeceased by her husband, James F. Riley; three daughters, Carolyn J. Sullivan, R. Anne Redmond and Blanche C. Mack-Davis; and a son, Thomas E. Riley. Surviving are her daughter, M. Theresa Morris of Scarborough; and son, James M. Riley of Cleveland, Ohio; 35 grandchildren, nearly 70 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Visiting hours will be held 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St., Portland. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Thursday, at St. Joseph’s Church, 673 Stevens Ave., Portland. Burial will follow at New Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either, Sisters of Mercy Retirement Fund, at St. Joseph’s Convent, 605 Stevens Ave., Portland, ME 04103 or Mercy Hospital, Public Relations, 426 Forest Ave., Portland, ME 04103.
MARGARET ALMA RILEY
