Kenneth Richard Morley

Kenneth Richard Morley Jr. AKA, K. Richard Morley Jr., (known by most as Rich) passed away peacefully, in his home, surrounded by his loving family on March 31st, 2022. He was the husband of Debra Jean (Moore) Morley.

Richard was born to Kenneth R Morley Sr. and Charlotte Hey (Wilson) Morley on January 24th, 1953 at Amsterdam Memorial Hospital. He attended the Amsterdam School District and Schenectady Community College. He started working as a young boy for Morley’s Sport Shop and worked his way to road salesman, then warehouse manager and eventually became president and owner of the company. Under his management he incorporated the business and grew it to become a well known institutional sporting goods dealer nationwide. He was the President of Morley Athletic Supply Company Inc. until 2021 when he retired.

He was a lifelong member of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church. As a young man he was a choirboy in Otto Miller’s famed paid choir for many years. He also served as an acolyte. He was a member of the Oriental Shriners International of Troy, NY. He was a member of Masonic Welcome Lodge Number 829 (now known as Amsterdam Lodge No. 84) where he was raised and a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry NMJ; Valley of Schenectady Consistory; Aasr Valley of Schenectady.

Throughout his life, Richard enjoyed motorcycling, skiing, boating, hiking, hunting, fishing, camping and all other outdoor sports. He loved listening to music and enjoying time by the pool and around the fire with family and friends. His greatest “hobby” was being an entrepreneur and running his business.

Some of his accomplishments in life outside of business and family were working with his father and NYS Senators to get Southern Zone Hunting opened in NYS and working with Senator Huge Farley to get the NYS Prompt Pay Act passed. In addition, Richard and his spouse Debra started the effort and worked together to get petitions signed to fight the location of the Amsterdam Mall, working in their community to protect the businesses that once flourished in Amsterdam's downtown area. Sadly, they were unsuccessful. Richard often said his greatest accomplishment in life was raising two wonderful sons who provided him with 5 beautiful grandchildren.

He is survived by his spouse, Debra Jean (Moore) Morley who was his high school sweetheart. They were married for 47 years. He is also survived by his sons, Kenneth (Christina) R Morley III of Hagaman, NY and Justin (Rachael) Walsh Morley of Malta, NY; his five grandchildren, Aurora, Hunter, Patrick, Ava and Kaitlyn, sisters, Pamela Ritter (Chris Gavry) of Louisville, KY. and Betsy (Robert) Martin of Amsterdam, NY. He was predeceased by his parents Kenneth R. Morley Sr. and Charlotte Hey (Wilson) Morley.

Calling hours will be held Monday, April 4, 2022 from 5 to 7 PM at the Riley Mortuary, Inc., 110 Division St, Amsterdam, NY 12010. Funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11 AM at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 37 Division St, Amsterdam, NY 12010, with the Very Rev. Neal P. Longe and Rev. Kent McHeard officiating.

Members of Amsterdam Masonic Lodge # 84 F&A.M. will meet at the mortuary at 6 PM.

A private burial will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations / in lieu of flowers may be made to the American Heart Association, www.heart.org. or mailed to American Heart or Stroke Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692

To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.rileymortuaryinc.com