Our beloved Darren Wendell Riley passed away on May 21, 2025 at the age of 42. From the time he was born on April 13, 1983, he had a sense of adventure and love for the outdoors. Darren’s growing up years were spent with his Coast Guard family in Tahoe City, CA, Fallon, NY, Kodiak and Homer, AK. When the family moved to Homer he became an active member of the Kachemak Swim Club family. It was here that he made many lifelong friends.

At the age of fifteen Darren began his journey as a commercial fisherman, eventually landing a job on the FV Kustatan. Crab fishing on the Bering Sea soon became his passion. He developed a special bond with the Rehder family and his crew mates for nearly 25 years. Darren is being remembered for his contagious smile, bright eyes, and his witty and mischievous personality, his amazing cooking, wood projects, his kindness and generosity and his love for hosting gatherings with his friends and family. He loved snowmachining and watching sports with his Dad. With his Mom he enjoyed helping in the yard clearing and burning brush, gardening and planting seeds, and his favorite outdoor passion, watching and observing birds. Darren had a special ability to communicate with nature. He was a bird whisperer in his own right. He also kept the birds and squirrels fed with food and peanuts. Many birds would eat from his hand. Darren is survived by his parents Michael Wendell Riley (Kathi Doty Riley) and Cheryl Lee Riley; his siblings Travis Dean Riley and Jessica (Jess) Lee Riley (Jesse Aaron Fonseca); his maternal grandmother Donna Lee Calahan and his many aunts, uncles and cousins. Darren was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother Loretta Mae Wilson; paternal grandfather Stanley Wendell Riley; maternal grandfather Russell Lyle Calahan and his beloved dog and best friend Marlin.

May Darren’s memory be a blessing for the many lives he touched.

Until we meet again,

Fly high with the eagles Darren.

Fair winds and following seas.

There will be a private ceremony at a later date.

The family requests donations to setfreealaska.org, kbayrecovery.org, or alaskamindfulpaws.org.