Raymond H Richardson

Ray is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Terri; daughters, Emily Sonn (Matt), Amy Nelson (Ronald), and Hannah Richardson; sisters, Terry Herring (Chris), Marsha O’Roark, Linda Primeaux (Paul), and Rose Signor (Gary); and his brother, Roy Richardson (Ruth). He is also remembered as the best Grandpa anyone could ask for by grandchildren, Buddy, Evelyn, and Charlotte Nelson; Kevin, Malcolm, and Eloise Sonn; and beloved by countless nieces, nephews, and friends who were considered as family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Norma Jean (Montgomery) Richardson; brother-in-law, Michael O’Roark; father-in-law, Jerry Morris; and brother-in-law, Kevin Morris.

Ray was born on February 24, 1960, in Kansas City, Missouri to Jean and Russell Richardson, the youngest of six in a house full of love and big personalities. He attended North Kansas City High School where he made many lifelong friends, graduating in 1978. Ray worked several jobs where he showed off his proudly earned “ice-cream-scooping” muscles, was bitten by a copperhead snake (that crawled off and died), fell asleep in the bread truck and traumatized a poor bystander by crashing into the bridge, all before becoming an AutoCad engineer for Marion Merrell Dow.

Ray and Terri met in March of 1978 at the drive-in and fell in love right away. They were married August 16, 1980. In 1982 on New Year’s Eve, the twins Emily Diane and Amy Rae were born, and then life was complete when Hannah Jean came along on March 11, 1991. He was the perfect Girl Dad, teaching his daughters life skills, generosity, humor, strength of spirit, honesty and integrity.

A lifelong Kansas Citian, Ray was passionate about his favorite teams. Many days and nights were spent at Kauffman Stadium cheering on the Royals with his family and friends, and he was known by many as a tailgate legend on Sundays at Arrowhead. His love of baseball was passed on to his children and grandchildren. “Grandpa Ray” became a fixture at Buddy’s baseball games, making friends with the families, cheering on the boys, and keeping lifetime stats on his phone so he could share his pride in his favorite ballplayer.

Ray loved a party where he could share his other passions - feeding people, telling stories, and singing and dancing in the backyard. Everyone was welcome in Ray and Terri’s house, whether he was meeting them for the first time or the hundredth time, even if you were a vegetarian. He had many claims to fame, including Princess Cruise Line Drunken Buffoonery and Limbo champ (along with runner-up Mr. Golden Princess), Pomme de Terre Lake belly flop champion (tied with Walter the Labrador), and his favorite title Uber Dad and Uber Grandpa. He led the dinnertime tradition of pits and peaks, even as he broke the rules with more than one pit every time. He also had many well-known “Ray-isms” such as “There I was, naked as a jaybird,” “You know I can bite the head off a mountain lion,” and “She will climb you like a spider-monkey.” He was well known as Breech by Walrus Team 11 (Tusks Up), and loved being in the great outdoors golfing, fishing, and other unmentionable activities (please no further questions).

He never wavered on who he was or what he valued. He was our protector, our chef, our comedian, our expert photographer, and our fixer. He was selfless and loved his family and friends above all else.

All are invited to celebrate Ray’s life on Wednesday, September 18, from 5-7pm at White Chapel Funeral Home (6600 NE Antioch Road Gladstone MO 64119). In keeping with his favorite couture, we invite all to wear their best Hawaiian gear to celebrate his unique style.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family for a memorial bench to be placed at Oak Grove Park so everyone can sit and visit with Ray.

The family would like to thank the KU Cancer Center and Dr. Amy Braden and her nurse Brennan for their care of Ray and his family in the last months of his life.

Finally “Hey, How’s my hair?”