Obituaries

Norman Breeze Riley, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on May 15, 2025 at Charter Senior Living of Oak Openings in Sylvania, Ohio. Norman was born in Sennett, New York on February 28, 1927, the son of Charles H. Riley Sr. and Clara Mary (Breeze) Riley. He graduated from Weedsport High School in 1945. While in high school, he attended Empire Boy’s State, participated in numerous school clubs, played the tuba in the band and participated in many New York State Music Association competitions as a soloist and won many state awards. He also played in the Auburn High School Band. In 1943, he played with the 108’th U.S. Infantry band. Norman was also active in sports, playing football and basketball. He was active in Future Farmers of America and took an agricultural course in high school which the teacher often turned over to him to teach. It was at Weedsport school that he met the love of his life, Margaret Ramsay. He and Margaret were married on June 21, 1947.

After high school, he went into a farming partnership with his brother, Douglas, and his father. They operated the Webster Farm in Sennett, New York, a 400-acre operation that was considered one of the best farms in Cayuga County. He and Douglas eventually bought their father’s interest in the farm. Many groups came to the Webster Farm for tours and demonstrations.

Norman was appointed to represent the Dairymen’s League on the Big-6 Picnic Board and, for a number of years, he served as the Treasurer of the Big 6 Picnic. This was a large yearly county fair. Norman served on the Jordan-Elbridge School Board, played Santa Claus for over 25 years at “The Home” in Auburn. He was a member of the Lord’s Acre Class and the Couples Class at the Sennett Federated Church where he served as the Choir Director for over 35 years. His love of music and singing led him into participating in the Church Minstrel Shows, which were a popular local attraction in the 40’s and 50’s. Norman also joined a barbershop group –The Harmony Blenders - through the Auburn Chapter of SPEBSQSA and, for decades, the group sang all over central New York.

After selling the farm in 1979, Norman went to work for Agway as an Enterprise Salesman. He worked for Agway for 12 years on the road providing sales of seed, feed and fertilizer and offering technical assistance to local farmers. In his spare time, he gave people tours at Owen Orchards on a tractor-pulled wagon and was a volunteer at the Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum, working to expand the museum. He was appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the Museum and eventually served as President of the Board for many years. A wing of one of the buildings in the Museum is named for him—The Norman Riley Exhibit Hall. For many years, he was a curator, tour guide, demonstrator, consultant, exhibit developer and historian to the museum. 2001, he was appointed to the Cayuga County Tourism Council.

Norman was a woodworker all of his life. He could build and fix just about anything. After retirement from the farm, he also started a side business of repairing antiques. Antique dealers from all over the area would bring items to him for repair work. He delighted in making scale models of farm tractors and equipment. Norman’s many model tractors can now be seen at the Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum. After moving to Sylvania, he continued making wooden toys that he would donate to the yearly Christmas toy drive of TV Channel 13.

His children remember him as a loving father who always took time to help them with their school work, assist with their 4H projects, play games with them around the farm such as hide and seek, leading sing-a-longs with family and friends, sliding down hill with them in the winter and going swimming in the farm pond in the summer. Each year he and Margaret would take them on camping trips throughout the New England states, often to include climbing a mountain or two.

Norman is preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers, and by his wife Margaret to whom he was married for 73 years. Left to cherish his memory are his children, Christine Spengler and Keith Riley; granddaughters, Andria (Andy) Gardner and Stephanie (Ed) Olsen; and great-grandchildren, Emma and Jack Gardner.

There will be no local calling hours or service. The cremains of both Norman and his wife, Margaret, will be returned to Sennett, New York for a memorial service there at a later date. They will rest in peace in the Sennett Rural Cemetery, surrounded by other family members who have passed—a family that spans many, many generations.

Remembrance donations may be made to the Ward O’Hara Agricultural Museum in Auburn, New York. Walker Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be shared with the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com