William Richmond

William Grady Richmond of Midwest City Oklahoma (formerly of Waldron, Arkansas) passed from this life, Sunday, July 7, 2013 in Tulsa, Oklahoma surrounded by his loving family. Grady was born November 5, 1936 in Waldron, Arkansas to William Granville Richmond and Edith Emma (Stafford) Richmond. Grady was 76 years, 8 months and 2 days old. Grady proudly served in the United States Air Force for 20 years. He then received his Master's Degree in Education & Physical Education with sports and coaching. Grady later retired after 20 years with the Lexington Public Schools where he coached baseball, football, basketball and track. With that many years in sports, it was no wonder that sports was not only his career but also what he enjoyed and loved to do. His wife often called his gardening, "piddling in the yard" but he did it with pride and relished the time he got to enjoy it. Grady was an avid fisherman, and he also enjoyed hunting with his buddies from "The Deer Woods". To top it all off, a man with such diverse pleasures also would take any opportunity to listen to his relatives when they would sing and play music. Grady was a family man. He welcomed every chance to spend time with all of his children, grandchildren and great grands. Their precious visits were among his most treasured memories. Grady leaves behind to cherish his memory, one daughter, Tania (Richmond) Reeves of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, five sons: Erik Richmond and wife Lourdes of Midwest City Oklahoma, Gary Richmond & Jolene Adams of Los Angeles, California, Mike Richmond of Midwest City, Oklahoma, Robert Richmond of Midwest City, Oklahoma and Billy Richmond and wife Brenda of Muldrow, Oklahoma. G-pa or as some would call him, "Crusty" will forever be missed by his grandchildren: Jenifer Ellis, J.R. Richmond, Michael Richmond, Jillian Richmond, Melissa Richmond, Zachary Richmond, Kyla Richmond, Caitlin Richmond, Nicole Richmond, Brandon Reeves, Matthew Richmond, Amanda Reeves, Austin Reeves, Kim-Ly Richmond and Nathaniel Richmond as well as seven great grandchildren. Grady is also survived by one sister, Doris Jean (Richmond) Wise of Texarkana, Arkansas. Grady will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives were impacted by him including a host of cousins, friends and loved ones who loved him dearly. Grady is preceded in death by his loving wife of 47 years, Erika (Stumps) Richmond, his "Liebchen", his parents Granville and Edith (Stafford) Richmond, and two sisters: Violet(Richmond) Fonville and Alma (Richmond) Warren. Grady's life celebration will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 13, 2013 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas. Interment will follow in the Pilot Prairie Cemetery near Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas. Grady's pallbearers will be J.R. Richmond, Zachary Richmond, Brandon Reeves, Danny (Little Dan) Richmond, Matthew Richmond and Austin Reeves. Honorary pallbearers will be Traver Butenschoen, Landon Richmond, Jackie Richmond, Rowdy Richmond, Joe Richmond, Danny Richmond Sr. and all of Grady's Deer Wood buddies. Grady's visitation will be Friday, July 12, 2013 from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas where Grady's family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.