Larry Eugene Richie
Funeral services for Larry Eugene Richie of Palestine, Texas will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Southside Baptist Church with the Rev. Jack Chelf officiating.
Larry passed away Thursday, Oct. 1st at home with his family by his side.
He was born Dec. 6, 1938 in Vernon, Texas to Charles Standlee and Etta (Boyd) Richie. Larry was a Christian and member of Southside Baptist Church where he enjoyed being a greeter, singing in the JOY Choir, and directing traffic for VBS.
He attended school in Harrold Texas and worked the wheat harvest during the summers of his youth. He traveled from his family’s farm in Harrold to the panhandle of Texas, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming.
He graduated from Harrold High School in 1957 and was a proud Harrold Hornet all of his life. After serving in in the U.S. Army as a medic, Larry was co-owner of Richie and Sons Service Station north of Oklaunion, Texas. In 1972 ,he and his family moved to Grapeland, Texas where he worked at Vulcraft until his retirement in 2001. He not only took pride in a job well done but cherished the friendships he made during his time at the plant. Larry enjoyed football, baseball, gardening, working in his shop, playing progressive rummy, and painstakingly helping his grandkids with their school projects , which were the most elaborate in the class. He was a welder by trade, and could be found in his shop tackling any project to help a friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Jo Ann Dean. He is survived by his wife, Frances Richie; sons, David Richie and wife Lori of Palestine and Lawrence Richie and wife Julie of Grapeland; stepsons, Don Ferguson and wife Robbie of Centerville and Ricky Ferguson and wife Donna of Aledo; grandchildren, Ryan Richie and wife Amanda of Grapeland , Justin Richie and wife Tabitha of Grapeland, Jacob Richie of College Station, Jamie Ferguson of Centerville, Loren Ferguson of Dallas, and Bryce Ferguson of Aledo, and three great-grandchildren, Kaylee and Chanellor Francis and soon to be born, Samantha Jane Richie.
Also surviving Larry are his brothers, Bob Richie and wife Leonor of Palestine, and Ronnie Richie and wife Janice of Vernon, Texas; sisters Betty Gary of Vernon, Texas and Rita Bitz and her husband Jim of Georgetown, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Ryan Richie, Justin Richie, Jacob Richie, Bryce Ferguson, Marlon Cooper and Albert Neel.
Visitation will be held Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bailey and Foster Funeral Home in Palestine. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd. Tyler, Texas 75701.
The family would like to especially thank Tabatha and Brian for their special care of our dad.
To view online, leave condolences or sign the guest book, go to www.baileyandfosterfuneralhome.com.
