Dale Ray Richard, 74, of Oak Grove, Missouri passed away on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Visitation will be 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley. Service to follow at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial in Grain Valley Cemetery, Grain Valley, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: The Grain Valley Historical Society or Midwest Animal Rescue.
Dale was born March 29, 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of William Dennis and Elora Charlene (Stephenson) Richard. He grew up in Grain Valley, where he attended Grain Valley High School. During high school he participated in all sports, being captains of the football and basketball teams as well as winning the Napier award. He also was elected as a class officer multiple times and participated in the school’s plays, including the lead role in a musical.
Dale then went on to graduate with a teaching degree from Central Methodist University. While at university he married his high school sweetheart, Kathie Brown, and had two children, Duane and Karen. For the next 10 years he taught and coached in the surrounding area, ending his coaching career at Baker University coaching football with his brother, Charlie Richard.
Dale spent most of his life working on the family dairy farm with his wife until her passing in 2017. Around this time, he converted the dairy operation to a beef operation, which he had many friends, family, and neighbors helping him run and maintain until his passing. Throughout his entire life you could always find Dale with a warm smile, ready to joke and have fun.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Kathie Richard in 2017; and brother, Charles Richard in 1994.
Dale is survived by 2 children: daughter, Karen Richard (husband Dave Gonzalez) of Ellisville, MO; son, Duane Richard (Lisa) of Grain Valley, MO; 2 grandsons: Dalton Richard and Dylan Richard; brother, Bob Richard (Judy) of Oak Grove, MO; sister-in-law, Nancy Richard of Baldwin City, KS; 5 nieces and nephews; several great nieces and nephews; and the many friends who helped out on the farm over the years.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO 816-847-4441
Rick Mann
7 Dec 2023Dale was a great athlete, a great coach, and a great friend to many. He touched many lives and forever was a proud Grain Valley Eagle. We all miss him. He was one of the Good Ones.
Constantine Kotzambasis
16 Dec 2023I was very sad to hear the news about Dale .
Being a relative with the Doty family I consider myself honored to be also counted as his cousin . In my latest visit to Grain Valley my American brother Larry Doty took me to his house to see him.
I will always have fond memories of him and his family whom I had the pleasure and honour to meet when I first came to Grain Valley in 1965 as a foreign exchange student. He will always be remembered !