BEVERLY – Mrs. Alice Therese Riley-King 72, of Beverly, formerly of Lynn and Salem, beloved wife of Edward Albert King Jr., died peacefully, Monday, March 3rd, 2025, at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston surrounded by loved ones.

Born in Peabody, she was the daughter of the late, John Edward Sr. and Josephine (Sullivan) Riley. She was raised and educated in Salem, attended the former St. Mary's Grammar School and was a graduate of Salem High School, class of 1971. She continued her education at North Shore Community College and Salem State College earning her degree in Criminal Justice.

For Alice and all those that knew her they would say family and friends always came first. She was a devoted wife, mother, a loving sister and sister-in-law, a cherished aunt and great aunt to her large family and a faithful friend. She had no greater love than for her late son Brad Michael Riley. Alice was unstoppable and dependable, teaching all those she encountered to always "show-up" for one another, be humble and live with integrity. For her, one of the many lessons, she engrained in those around her was that " character is who you are when no one is watching ."  There were many enjoyable occasions, but perhaps the most special in recent years was the annual Riley-King Christmas party she and Edward hosted, which was a cherished time to pause and enjoy family from near and far. Alice was the "superfan" at endless sporting events, dance recitals, musical concerts and award ceremonies always cheering on the next generation of Rileys. If not on the sidelines or in the audience, she could always be found enjoying a nice cup of tea in a meaningful conversation, enjoying "muffin Sunday" or perhaps making her epic hot chocolate to keep the sidelines fans warm. She set a great standard and path for all Riley women and men to follow and will be forever remembered. If you were in Alice Riley-Kings sphere you could always count on her.

Her family is her legacy, but she was a trailblazer in her own right with a professional career that broke barriers and paved the way for many that came after her. Mrs. Riley-King began her professional career with the G.T.E. Sylvania, first working at the Loring Avenue plant in Salem and at the Sylvan St, Danvers location. In 1989 she began a long and illustrious career as a Teamster, joining Local 42. Alice was well respected amongst many of the labor circles through the Northeast and beyond. She was an ardent supporter of unions and the role of joined discussions. So much so that she was elected the President and Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 42 in 1994, serving in this capacity as the first woman voted by her members to ever hold this position. She was a fierce fighter for workers rights always with intelligence and an unmatched business acumen. She was truly respected on both sides of the table. She was promoted to the Joint Council 10 as a Board Member, again breaking the glass ceiling to become the first female in her role. She worked for the benefit of others until the time of her retirement in 2014. Alice's actions and words defined that of servant leadership. In retirement she went out on her own as a Labor Consultant and was often called upon in difficult contractual negotiations. Although she did not win every battle, she always made sure that the workers and people she represented were treated fairly and to their worth. She was revered nationally for her negotiation skills and genuinely loved by all she worked for and with.

Alice was a long-time resident of the North Shore and was extremely proud of her familial and Salem heritage. Talented musically from an early age, she was a member of the I.C. Comets and Rockets Drum & Bugle Corps. Later in life, she rekindled this love by joining the Cardinal Drum & Bugle Tribute Corps. She was an avid Boston Sports fan and enjoyed spending her time traveling and on occasion working to take up the game of golf. Active civically, she was a poll worker for the City of Beverly and served as a Board Member for the Magical Moon Foundation, the New England Teamsters Credit Union and Chairperson of the New England Teamsters Woman's Committee.

Alice is survived by her loving husband of 33 years, Edward Albert King Jr., of Beverly, her sister, Maureen Carone and her husband, William of NH, her brother, Francis X. Riley of Beverly, her sister-in-law, Gail Riley and her forever friends, Kathy and Bert Connolly, along with over 120 nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews whom she loved dearly. She was pre-deceased by her sisters the late Martha Getty, Rosemary Demeule, Eleanor Waldron, and sisters-in-law Barbara Riley and Janet Riley and her brothers, Arthur David, Walter, John, Michael, Mark and Jerome Riley. She was the godmother to Eric Connolly, Scott Connolly, Glenn Getty Jr., Gianna McGillick, Stephanie Perez and Olivia Reardon. She has joined her son, Brad Michael in the arms of the angels.

ARRANGEMENTS: Her funeral will be held from O'Donnell Cremations - Funerals - Celebrations, 84 Washington Sq., (At Salem Common) SALEM, Saturday, March 8th, at 9 A.M. followed by her funeral Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church, Hawthorne Blvd., Salem at 10 A.M. Relatives and friends invited. Burial in St. Mary's Cemetery, Salem. Visiting hours Friday, March 7th from 4 to 8 P.M. Donations may be made to the Magical Moon Foundation, 575 Summer St., Marshfield, MA 02050 or to the Teamsters Local 25 for Autism, 544 Main St., Boston, MA 02129. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com