Dr. Wm. S. Reiley 1871-1950

BRUCE

Posted By: Bill Reiley (email)
Date: 10/4/2006 at 23:39:54

The Sun
Red Oak
November 9, 1950

Dr.W.S. Reiley Service Tomorrow

Community Mourns One of its Foremost Citizens Who Passed Away Yesterday Morning.

-------------------------------

The entire community today mourns beloved Dr. W. S. Reiley, 79, one of its foremost citizens who died at 11:30 a.m. yesterday at Murphy Memorial Hospital after illness of several weeks.
Funeral services for the dean of local physicians, former mayor and community builder, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from the Congregational Church, of which he was a member, with Rev. Phillip Van Luven , the pastor in charge. The body will lie in state at the Congregational Church from 10 a.m., Friday until the time of the funeral service, and the casket will not be opened thereafter. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Further funeral arrangements were pending at press time yesterday. The Sellergren Funeral Home is in charge.
William Smith Reiley was born Oct. 19, 1871, at Greensburg, Ind., a son of Dr. and Mrs. O.S. Reiley. He came to Red Oak in March 1880, with his parents, attended the public schools and was graduated from the Red Oak high school in 1888. After graduating from high school and before starting his medical career, Dr. Reiley served for three years as an apprentice printer in the Sun office, learning the printer’s trade from Boll & Clark, owners and publishers of the paper at that time. Dr. Reiley graduated from the Omaha Medical School Apr. 4, 1895, and began practicing medicine the next day in the office of his father, the late O.S. Reiley, the office being upstairs on the north side of the square. The elder Dr. Reiley died April 29, 1916, and Dr. W.S. Reiley took over the practice.
Dr. Reiley kept his practice and was active until stricken with his fatal illness a few weeks ago. He completed more than 55 years of service as a practicing physician, and during that time he was probably intimately acquainted with more people of the community than any other person. It has been estimated that he delivered more than 3,500 babies.
On the occasion of his 50th anniversary of medical practice, Dr. Reiley was honored in April 1945, at dinners given by the Red Oak Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery County Medical Society. There also was an “open house” at his home and he was presented a medal by the State Medical Society. Dr. Reiley was the exemplification of the “family doctor”, one who held service to patients, their families and the entire community above all other attainments.
During his busy life Dr. Reiley has found time to take part in civic affairs of the city and has held many public offices. He served as mayor of Red Oak for 12 years, four years between 1903 and 1907 and eight years ending in April 1945. Over a period of time he served as city health officer for 20 years, as Montgomery county coroner, member of the school board, chief of staff of Murphy Memorial Hospital, member of the Red Oak Fire Department and the Chamber of Commerce, was past president of the Montgomery County and Mississippi Valley Medical Associations.
As a member of the Red Oak Fire Department, Dr. Reiley received a 50 year service medal in 1940, and since then, as an honorary member, has often ridden in the seat of the fire truck during parades and other public functions. He also was a 50 year Mason and a member of all the Masonic bodies. He was a past master of the Blue Lodge and installed the officers of the organization for several decades. Dr. Reiley also belonged to the O.E.S.I.O.O.F.
Dr. Reiley was married in Red Oak, Dec. 8, 1896, to Edna Rae Jones, who survives. Other survivors are two sons, Oliver S. Reiley and Robert J. Reiley, and a daughter, Mrs. Edna Bruce, all of Red Oak. There are four grandchildren. A son William and a daughter Rae preceded Dr. Reiley in death.