Eddie William Richardson

Eddie William Richardson passed away peacefully at home on January 31, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on September 23, 1940 to Dorothy Jane and Mance Rice Richardson in Madill, Oklahoma. He graduated from Mary Carroll High School in Corpus Christi, Texas and married his high school sweetheart, Gerrie Mikulik. After high school, Eddie joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed with his young family at Sembach Air Base in Germany. He later served his country in Vietnam from 1966-1967. After leaving the Air Force, Eddie moved his family to Kingsville, Texas and started Rice Well Service, which he ran successfully from 1970-1986. During his years in Kingsville, Eddie was a member of the Board of Directors of United General Insurance. After moving to The Hills of Lakeway in Austin in 1987, he became an oil and gas consultant with the Lower Colorado River Authority and Cox & Perkins, and was a proud employee of Bass Enterprises for the last 15 years. Eddie was truly one of the nicest people God ever put on the face of the earth. His big smile, generosity and calm demeanor made him easy to love. He was always the first to stop and render aid at car accidents, help out others in need or to just throw extra steaks on the grill for his wide circle of friends. An avid sportsman and golfer, he taught his entire family to play so he could spend time with them enjoying the game he loved. One of his favorite tournaments was the Bass Enterprises Texas-Louisiana Ryder Cup. He worked hard while at the same time ensuring his family always came first. His Christmas light displays were legendary, as were the death-defying feats he undertook to hang them from the most precarious positions. He adored his grandchildren and loved to take them fishing and golfing – relishing in each bass caught and each drive struck. His love of life was only matched by his love for his kids, grandkids, and wife Gerrie, with whom he shared 48 years of marriage. Together they traveled the world, and he left this life with no regrets. He is survived by his beloved wife Gerrie; his son, Craig Richardson, and wife, Melanie, and grandchildren Kurt and Ross; his daughter, Lisa Diedrich, and husband Guy, and grandchildren Chandler and Grant; and his brother, Mance Richardson. Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 7th at Emmaus Catholic Church, 1718 Lohman's Crossing in Lakeway, TX. Grateful appreciation for Eddie's love and care during his extended illness is given to Patty Almond at Hospice Austin, and Dr. Tokaz and the entire staff at Texas Oncology. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78759.