Ricky Roe Ritchey

Rick was a natural born adventurer. Born in Vandalia, Illinois on July 4, 1955. Throughout his life, Rick enjoyed watching the fireworks set off on his birthday. Rick was the second child of five and only son of Robert and Ruedean Ritchey. Rick spent his early years exploring his home and surrounding community. Rick loved spending time outside hunting and fishing, a passion that he continued throughout his life. Over the next several years, Rick moved to New Mexico and Colorado. Then in 1968, Rick began a new adventure when his parents moved the family to the deserts of Phoenix, Arizona. While living in Phoenix, Rick learned the value of hard work, spending his summers harvesting alfalfa crops in the Arizona heat.

Despite the valuable lessons this work instilled, Rick was undoubtedly relieved to stop when his father moved to Tucson, Arizona to open several gas stations. Over the years, Rick helped operate his father’s gas stations, including during the gas crisis of the 1970s. During high school, Rick bought his first motorcycle. Rick’s love for motorcycles would last the rest of his life. In 1973, Rick graduated from Santa Rita High School. After high school, Rick got his hands dirty, literally, by working in the mines outside Casa Grande. Rick was excited about the work, until he saw a mine cave-in firsthand and decided that maybe the job was not for him. After leaving the mines, Rick tried his hand at being a lumberjack with an Arizona timber yard.

Rick’s life changed forever in 1975, when he met members of a local motorcycle club at a protest challenging a proposed mandatory helmet law. Shortly after the meeting, Rick joined the club and opened a motorcycle wheel shop. While a member of the motorcycle club, Rick experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. No point was lower than when Rick was shot at the age of 20. In the emergency room, Rick was given a 10% chance of living. Despite the long odds, Rick pulled through because he knew that his life’s purpose was unfulfilled.

In fact, Rick’s life changed forever when he met Jeanne Miel at the Sandbox bar in Phoenix. Their meeting was pure fate because prior to the night they met neither Rick nor Jean had ever been to that bar before. Rick and Jean would be together for the next 45 years. Rick and Jean loved to ride his motorcycle together throughout the state and country.

In 1983, Rick left the motorcycle club and moved with Jean to Butler, Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, Rick got the job that he was destined for, that of being a father. In 1984, Jean gave birth to their first son, Eric. Three years later, Rick and Jean moved back to Tucson, Arizona and gave birth to their second son, Jesse. Over the years, Rick got two more sons, Joshua and Matthew. Rick loved spending time with his sons, often taking them on hunting and fishing trips. Even as he grew older, Rick would never hesitate to join his sons at the lake to spend some time fishing.

Unfortunately, in 1994, Rick had a second brush with death when he suffered a heart attack while working. Several years later, Rick would suffer complications after heart surgery. In both circumstances, Jean was right there for Rick, taking care of him and nursing him back to health. After these medical emergencies, Rick stayed home to spend more time with his children, where he was a common fixture at his children’s sport events, award ceremonies, and other important occasions.

If Rick liked being a father, he loved being a grandfather. In 2005, Rick and Jean’s first grandchild, Emma Ritchey was born. After 21 years of waiting, Jean finally got the baby girl in her life that she tried so hard for. Almost two years later, Rick’s first grandson, Ben Ritchey, was born, followed by another granddaughter, Ava Ritchey, and two more grandsons, Kohl Ritchey and Evan Ritchey. Rick loved spending time with his grandchildren and during any family event was sure to be playing and joking with his grandkids. Rick also never gave up a chance to spend time with his grandkids. He was willing to drop anything and watch them when given the chance, even if that meant leaving the city or state to take care of them. Over the years, Rick traveled the country to spend time with his children and grandchildren, spending time on both coasts and many places in between.

In May 2024, Rick suffered a medical emergency returning from a vacation and visit with his youngest son. He passed away on May 30, 2024, in the arms of his loving wife. Over his life, Rick overcame several brushes with death and got an additional 48 years of life. Rick spent those years taking care of his family and friends. Rick lived without regrets and brightened every life he touched. He is survived by Jeanne Ritchey; Eric Ritchey; Jesse Ritchey and his wife Laura Ritchey; Joshua Ritchey; Matthew Ritchey; Emma Ritchey; Ben Ritchey; Ava Ritchey; Kohl Ritchey; and Evan Ritchey; his sister Donna Cornett and her husband Joe Cornett; and many nieces and nephews. But he is deeply missed by countless more.