Darrell "Dean" Richards

DEAN WAS BORN AT HOME IN BEAMAN, MO ON FEBRUARY 25, 1936, TO OLLIE EDWARD AND IOLA FRANCES (FISCHER) RICHARDS.

DEAN MARRIED SHARON MINES OF SEDALIA, MO., ON JANUARY 28, 1961.

DEAN WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS PARENTS, LOVING WIFE OF 61 YEARS, SHARON, BROTHERS EDWARD LEO RICHARDS, LOY L RICHARDS AND LOWELL HOWARD RICHARDS.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS SISTER, PATTY WEIR, SEDALIA, MO., HIS CHILDREN JOEL (KRISTY) RICHARDS, RICHMOND, MO, DIANNE (CHRIS) MCGUIRE, HARDIN, MO AND JILL (JOYCE KNIGHT) RICHARDS, RICHMOND, MO.

ADDITIONAL SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HIS GRANDCHILDREN JUSTIN RICHARDS AND JARED RICHARDS, RICHMOND, MO., STEVAN MCGUIRE, HUMANSVILLE, MO AND BRIANNE MCGUIRE, KANSAS CITY, MO., GREAT GRANDCHILDREN ELIJAH MCGUIRE, JOHN RICHARDS AND JASPER RICHARDS.

DEAN WAS A PROUD 8TH GRADE GRADUATE OF THE BOTHWELL ONE-ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE THAT SITS ON HWY 65 NORTH OF SEDALIA, MO AND THE CLASS OF 1954 OF SMITH-COTTON HIGH SCHOOL, SEDALIA, MO. HE RECEIVED HIS ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN PRACTICAL BUSINESS FROM WENTWORTH MILITARY ACADEMY AND JUNIOR COLLEGE IN 1976.

DEAN ENLISTED IN THE US ARMY IN 1955 WHERE HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY STATIONED IN BAMBURG, GERMANY UNTIL 1958, THEN SERVED IN THE RESERVES FROM 1958 UNTIL HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE WITH THE RANK OF PFC IN 1963. HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF RICHMOND LOCAL VFW POST 4398.

DEAN BEGAN HIS CAREER PATH WITH SKELLY OIL COMPANY AND RETIRED FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

ALONG WITH BEING A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE LEXINGTON MOOSE LODGE AND THE RAY COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION, DEAN WAS ALSO ACTIVE IN MANY OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT HIS LIFETIME. HE WAS AN EXCELLENT CARPENTER, ELECTRICIAN AND ALL-AROUND HANDY MAN AND WAS CALLED UPON QUITE OFTEN TO “FIX” SOMETHING.

DEAN ENJOYED GOING TO AUCTIONS AND EVEN HAD HIS OWN BID NUMBER SET ASIDE BY SEVERAL AUCTIONEERING COMPANIES JUST IN CASE HE SHOWED UP! HE ENJOYED RIDING MOTORCYLCES AND HE AND SHARON TOOK MANY ROAD TRIPS THROUGHOUT THEIR MARRIAGE ON HIS MOTO GUZZI TOURING BIKE.

DEAN AND SHARON LOVED TO DANCE AND NOW WE ARE SURE THEY ARE 2-STEPPING THEIR WAY THROUGH HEAVEN.

INTERMENT WILL BE IN THE MISSOURI STATE VETERANS CEMETERY, 20109 BUSINESS HWY 13, HIGGINSVILLE, MO., ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2025 AT 1PM IN THE CHAPEL.

DEAN’S CELEBRATION OF LIFE WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2025, AT THE RAY COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING, 312 CLARK STREET, RICHMOND MO FROM 2P-4P.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS PLEASE MAKE MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO RAY COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION, 1013 W ROYLE ST., RICHMOND, MO., OR SHIRKEY HOSPICE AND PALIATIVE CARE, 804 WOLLARD BLVD., RICHMOND, MO.