Richard Arthur Wages Jr.

Ricky, as he was affectionately known, was born July 13, 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia and was reared in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from Forest Hill High School in 1989, Ricky went on to attend Hinds Community College and Mississippi State University where he studied criminal justice before going on to graduate from Pikes Peak Regional Law Enforcement Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1992. He would go on to enjoy a 26-year career with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office in Fort Collins, CO where he worked his way up from jail deputy to patrol deputy to patrol corporal. While with LCSO he received numerous awards including Meritorious Service Award (twice), Lifesaving Award (twice), and the Heroes Award from the State of CO for DUI enforcement. At the time of his passing, Ricky was currently employed with Allied Universal in Greeley, CO.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Arthur Wages, Sr and Frances (Betsy) Moses Wages, maternal grandparents, Walter Anthony Moses, Sr and Johnnie Ruth Wallace Moses, paternal grandparents, Floyd Arthur Wages and Grethel Wages , and nephew, Bennett Scott Tomlinson.

He is survived by his daughter, Mackenzie Kay Wages of Loveland, CO; son, Connor Scott Wages of Fort Collins, CO; sisters Amy Wages Lynn (Richard) of Brandon, MS; Jennifer Wages Anderson (Jimmy) of Brandon, MS; and Courtney Wages Tomlinson (Scott) of Hattiesburg, MS; nieces, Katherine Elizabeth Lynn of Nashville, TN, Abigail Grace Lynn of Brandon, MS, Baleigh Elizabeth Anderson of Brandon, MS and Jane Elizabeth Tomlinson of Hattiesburg, MS; nephews, Pearce Arthur Lynn of Brandon, MS, Robert Cole Anderson of Auburn, AL, Reece Walters Tomlinson of Hattiesburg, MS and Hayes Wages Tomlinson of Hattiesburg, MS and his devoted partner, Katie French-White of Windsor, CO and her daughters, Addison and Gracie White of Windsor, CO.

Ricky was a proud father of his two children and a hard worker in all he did. He was well-liked and well-respected by both his friends and co-workers who also, despite him being gone from MS for over 30 years, loved to tease him mercilessly about his slow southern drawl.

He enjoyed sharing his love of cooking and Southern food with anyone he could, much like his own dad did with others when he was growing up. Also like his own dad, Ricky enjoyed gardening and took immense pride in his immaculately manicured lawn. He was loved by many, made quite an impression on even more, and will be missed tremendously.