Anne Clay Riley (Stolen)

Anne Clay Riley (Stolen), aged 90, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2025 at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg, WI. Born on May 4, 1935, in Denver, CO, Anne was adopted by Miss Emily C. Riley. She was raised by her mother and her aunt, Anna Reubenia Dubach in Denver and Boulder, CO and St. Louis, MO. Anne was very much like her spirited and imaginative namesake in “Anne of Green Gables,” always making sure to enlighten the world that her name was, in fact, “Anne with an ‘e.’”

Anne attended Rossman School in St. Louis and graduated with John Burroughs School (Ladue, MO) Class of 1952. She attended Connecticut College for Women, New London, CT for two years before returning to St. Louis where she attended Washington University. Anne sang alto in the choir at both John Burroughs and Connecticut College. During her summers in college, Anne and her family spent summers in South Haven, MI and twice was a camp counselor at Camp Maccabee in Pelican Lake, Wisconsin. She graduated with a degree in Elementary Education.

Immediately after graduation, Anne joined the staff of Webster Groves (Missouri) School District as a Kindergarten teacher. After two years of teaching, Anne married and moved to San Diego, CA. There, Anne became an accomplished sailor, drawing on her experiences as camp counselor, enjoying time navigating sailboats on San Diego Bay and in the Pacific Ocean.

While in San Diego, Anne gave birth to her two children, Michael and Christopher. Anne’s family’s journey took them to Bay Village, OH and Wilmette, IL before finally moving to the Madison, WI area. During this time, Anne spent several years as a librarian at the Wilmette Public Library and also as an executive assistant to the editor of the Wisconsin State Journal.

In Wisconsin, Anne lived in both Maple Bluff and Sun Prairie before eventually arriving at Renaissance Senior Living – Hilldale, where she spent her last three years.

Anne was an avid Bridge player and reader of all types of books. She made many different crafts from her needlepoint work to give as gifts to family and friends. In her later years Anne enjoyed digging into New Age teachings and having group discussions, cultivating a lively network of “Light Workers.” Her special joy, however, was Christmas. Her Christmas tree was adorned with hundreds of ornaments that she considered “old friends,” many family “heirlooms” dating back to the Victorian era. Each year, Anne became a kid again around Christmas, with decorations that covered and spilled out of each room in the house. Her children (and many neighborhood children) considered her house a Christmas destination, coming over whenever possible to experience the joy of her passion for Christmas.

Our Mom was also a person of many talents. She could play Bumble Boogie and Rachmaninov on the piano. She was an amazing Scrabble player. She had eyes in the back of her head and she managed to see most everything that got us into trouble. She had a wonderful sense of humor.

We all nearly died laughing, reading P.L Travers’ Mary Poppins, the “Bad Tuesday” and “Bad Wednesday” chapters. And we will treasure those moments we laughed more than ever.

Anne was also a huge lover of animals. She had numerous canine companions throughout her childhood and adulthood, including her beloved Bing, Punch and Triste, who no doubt now have joined her at the Rainbow Bridge.

Anne is survived by her two children, Michael (Wendy) Temme of Las Vegas, NV and Christopher (Jenny) Temme of Madison, and grandchildren Philip, Everett (Emma), Clay and Brooke Temme, and her special cousin (“big sister”) Alice Hall of Annapolis, MD/Orofino, ID. She also leaves many other family members and friends who will dearly miss her presence.

We would like to thank the amazing care staff at Renaissance Senior Living – Hilldale, and the Harbor Memory Care Unit, especially Jamison Toepel and chaplain Jim Hergenrother, and the wonderful people at Agrace HopsiceCare for making her comfortable during her last days.

A private service celebrating her life will be held at a future date. Anne would have wanted any memorials to be directed to the Dane County Humane Society.

Please share your memories of Anne by posting here in her guestbook.

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