Richards

Richards

Leon Richards, beloved husband, daddy, and Hi-Guy, age 84 of Easter, Texas, passed away peacefully March 22, 2023, after an 11-month battle with cancer. Celebration of Life Memorial Service was held Tuesday, March 28, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Dimmitt, Texas. Graveside services will be scheduled at a later date.

Leon Paul Richards was born on Feb. 3, 1939, in Clovis, New Mexico to Mary and Earl Richards. He was raised in Bovina, where at a young age, he took on many responsibilities at the family owned slaughter house. He graduated from Bovina High School in 1957 as a card-carrying member of the Bovina Watermelon Gang. After two years at Texas Tech, he joined the United States Army. He served his nation proudly while stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington State, where he specialized in nuclear weapons. He was honorably discharged in 1964 to work for the USDA as a land surveyor.

Quickly after returning to civilian life, he had a chance meeting with Vicki Nell Strawn. On Aug. 13, 1964, after a 6-week whirlwind courtship, they walked down the aisle into a new life together that lasted the next 58 and two-third years. Leon ran Leon’s Drive-In in Portales, New Mexico, for a short time before returning to Texas, where he began a 20-year career in the finance and banking industry. During this time, he and Vicki put down roots in Easter, Texas, and raised their three girls. For the next 53 years, they called Easter home. He traded his suit and tie for a tool belt when he left the world of finance and began his own contracting business. He labored tirelessly until his retirement at the age of 76. During retirement, Leon enjoyed fishing, gardening, harassing his kids and grandkids, and visiting with friends and neighbors. He was the architect and chief engineer of Vicki’s Quilt Studio and was a less-thansilent managing partner of Deena’s Designs. Leon was a selfless husband, daddy, and HiGuy who always put his family first.

Leon is preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Mary Richards; father- and mother-in-law, Norvell and Doris Strawn; brother-inlaw, Jerry Strawn, sisterin- law, Judy Herring; and , Charlie Strawn.

Left to cherish his memory are wife, Vicki Richards of Easter; daughter, Vonda (Richard) Jack of Quinlan, Texas; daughter, Sharla (Ed) Mooney of Branson, Missouri; daughter, Deena Richards of Easter; grandson, Paden Ferguson of Coweta, Oklahoma; grandson, Dustin Jack of Denver, Colorado; grandson, Ethan (Lana) Ferguson and greatgranddaughter, Georgia of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; granddaughter, Kirsti (Shawn) Dotson and greatgrandson, Wesley of Plano, Texas; sister, Janice Richards of Abilene, Texas; sister, Patsy (Charles) Brewer of Abilene; bonus daughter, Kim Leonard of Hereford, Texas; and countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family asks that memorial contributions be made to First Baptist Church, 1201 Western Circle Drive, Dimmitt, TX 79027, The Humane Society of Deaf Smith County, PO Box 2145 Hereford, TX 79045, or your favorite veteran’s