Richard Keith Lafferty

Richard Keith “Roho” Lafferty 81 of Beckley passed away Thursday, July 13, 2017. Born March 20, 1936, he is the son of the late Richard Wilson Lafferty and Mary Susan Williams Lafferty. In addition to his parents, Richard is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Leslea Sweeney; father-in-law, Delbert Thompson. Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 44 years, Loretta Lafferty; daughters, Valinda Newman, Tina Knox; sons, Brian Lafferty, Aaron Lafferty, Richard Lafferty, Jr; sisters, Nancy Williams and Norma Craddock; mother-in-law, Lou Thompson; 9 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren. Richard was a 1954 graduate of Pax High School and he attended the Bradley Freewill Baptist Church. He was a heavy equipment operator for Perry and Hylton Coal Company for 27 years and a member of the UMWA. Richard proudly served with the United States Air Force. He was an avid hunter, loved dirt track racing and is in the WV Hall of Fame for Dirt Track Racing. He also loved old cars, especially his 1947 Ford and his 1940 Buick. Richard never met a stranger and had a laugh that could last a lifetime. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother. Services will be held at 1:00 PM Monday, July 17, 2017 at Blue Ridge Funeral Home, Beckley with Rev. Wayne Peters and Rev. Daniel Legg officiating. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Logan Lafferty, Travis Lafferty, Jerry Wayne Bowyer, Kevin Godby, K.C. Craddock and Preston Broyles. Friends may gather with the family Sunday from 5 – 8 PM at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralhome.com Arrangements by Blue Ridge Funeral Home, 5251 Robert C. Byrd Drive, Beckley, WV.