A life long resident of the Ava area Jack M. Richards was born Oct. 13, 1926, the son of Arthur and Lois (Jenkins) Richards, and departed this life Feb. 4, 2008, at the age of 81 years 3 months and 21 days.
Jack was a life long resident of the Ava area. He and Irene Bricker were united in marriage on March 13, 1948 in Ava. Jack and Irene were blessed with two children. Jack was employed with Sentinel Wood Treating plant for several years. After it closed, Jack farmed.
Jack loved being outdoors. He loved listening to gobblers in the spring and fishing anytime. In the fall, deer hunting and riding on his four-wheeler took up his time. He also enjoyed working with Jack Schmidt on the ranch.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Paula Ryan, two brothers, Bill and Marshall Richards, and one sister, Pauline Jenkins.
He is survived by his wife, Irene, of the home Ava; a son, Tony Richards and wife, Lisa, Ava; four grandchildren, Cody and Amanda Richards, Springfield, Rhonda and Tony Hollingsworth, O’Fallon, Rustin and Tina Ryan, Florissant, and Charley Hampton, Ava; great-grandchildren, Braxton Richards, Bryce and Grayson Atchison, Makenzie, Madison and Jacob Hollingsworth, Tyler and Ashley Ryan, and Jacob Nannie; one brother, Francis and Pauline Richards, Ava; a sister, Helen Dobbins, Ava; a son-in-law Ronald Ryan, of Arkansas; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today (Thursday, Feb. 7) at the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with the Rev. Vernon Fuller officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Tabor Cemetery. A visitation was held Wednesday, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made at www.clinkingbeard funeralhome.com.
