Clara Elizabeth Riley (Keen)

On Friday, January 27, Clara Elizabeth Riley, entered Heaven’s glory at the age of seventy-four after several years battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Clara was well-loved by all who knew her and will be most missed by her husband of 52-years, Mike, her children, Kevin (Jennifer) Riley, Melissa (Bob) Carson and her adoring grandchildren, Katie, Colin, Ava, and Drew, who were her world. She is also survived by her sister Doris Issa and brothers Roy, Robert, and Randy Keen, along with many nieces and nephews. She will also be greatly missed by her dog Bella and grand-dogs Cooper and Max, who she also dearly loved.

Clara was born the sixth of 10 children. She was preceded in death by her parents, Olga and Hubert Keen as well as siblings Donna Gillenwater, Peter Keen, Sonny Keen, Sarah Emery, and John Keen. Clara would often recount the story of her school years when classmates would inquire where everyone slept in a household of 10 kids, to which she would reply “in a bed, of course!”

Mike and Clara both grew up in River Rouge. They met in kindergarten, although it wasn’t until high school that they started dating. They married after Mike graduated college and began a beautiful life together characterized by love, faith, and family.

Clara worked and volunteered in the schools when Kevin and Melissa were young, serving as lunch lady, Brownie leader, PTO mom and even secretary to the principal at Hedke school in Trenton. She and Mike were at every one of their kids’ (and later grandkids’) sporting events, cheering them on in everything from soccer to basketball to softball to golf. She was even a Michigan fan by default, although as an avid reader, you might catch her reading her book instead of watching the game.

When grandkids came along, Clara was excited to provide “grandma daycare,” happily spending her days playing, feeding, and giving them all her love. And she wasn’t just a grandma to her four grandchildren -- she was Grandma Ba to their friends as well as extended family and neighbors.

Known for her humor and kind heart, Clara was a long-time member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she and Mike raised their family to know Jesus as their Lord and savior. They made many lifelong friends at St. Paul, especially through their small group. Clara also worked in the church office for ten years and served in many ministries including the women’s ministry, wedding committee and Vacation Bible School.

Visitation will be at Martenson Family of Funeral Homes of Trenton Chapel on Thursday, February 2 from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The funeral will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Friday, February 3 at 11 a.m. Clara will lie in state beginning at 10:30 a.m. A luncheon will be held directly following in the St. Paul Christian Life Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who are able instead donate to the Alzheimer’s Association to help find a cure or to St. Paul Lutheran Church to help spread the good news of Jesus Christ.