John Richardson
John was born in Vernal, UT to Joye McKeachnie & Lynn Richardson on a cold and snowless day in December of 1952. With his beautiful olive skin and long dark hair, which his Mom was often teased by his doctor that she “needed to cut his hair so he didn’t look like a girl”.
He and his brother Craig, being 13 months apart, were destined to be extremely close growing up. They grew even closer through their adult years, with their yearly hunting expeditions and summer visits to Grandma Joye’s house.
He grew up in the local scouting program and also helped his dad at the local Lynn's Texaco station. He graduated from Uintah High School in 1971. In 1973 he started working for Oil & Gas Processors who were bought out by Sivall’s Inc. in 1984 and who he was still working for at the time of his death. The management that he worked under for the past 45 years have become an extension of his own family whom he loved dearly. He married his high school sweetheart, Kathleen (Kathy) Calder in June of 1976 and they built their own home together over a 4 year span and completed it in 1982. John was officially outnumbered by females in 1980 and 1984 when his pride-and-joys, Amy and Lacy were born.
John had a deep love for the outdoors. He could be found most weekends at the farm with his grandkids doing the hard work that needed to be done, or simply letting the kids ride their 4 wheelers on the land that has been in John's family for over 100 years. He also enjoyed camping with all the family and made the time to sleep in the camper with the grandkids even if it was just sitting in the driveway at home. He was a founding member of the Split Mountain Archer’s in 1987 and stayed active in the club and all of their events for the past 31 years. He was an extremely skilled bow hunter and has held Pope & Young records. He was also an amazing cook whether it was in the kitchen, the dutch ovens, or the smoker and was the reigning rib champion among he and his son-in-laws.
His grandkids were the center of his world and you’d rarely find him without one, or all of them in-tow. He recently built a beautiful shop at his farm that quickly transitioned from a functional place to do farm work, to a grandkids clubhouse. With Grandpa blazing the trail, together they made it the coolest grandkid clubhouse in the Basin. John was one of the most humble, hard working and kind people to walk this earth. He was giving and lived a life of service and took care of everyone around him without complaint and without expectation. He was truly a Christlike man and gives us a perfect example of what we should strive to become.
John is survived by his loving wife Kathy, daughters Amy (David) Stratz and Lacy (Derick) Lange, his grandchildren Ayden Stratz, Austyn Stratz, Declyn Stratz, Carsen Lange & Kemry Lange, brother Craig (Karen) Richardson of Williston ND, niece Mattie (Derek Booth) Richardson of Williston ND, nephew Lynn (Wendy) Huber of Lapoint UT and Bart Huber of Bozeman MT, great-niece Lyndsy (Remington) Roberts of Lapoint UT, and great-nephew Taylor Huber of Lapoint UT. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Linda & Cheryl Lynne (infant), and great-nephew Quintin Huber.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 11AM at the Ashley 2nd Ward LDS Chapel (3040 North Vernal Avenue). A viewing for family and friends will be held Wednesday evening from 6-8PM at the Ashley Valley Funeral Home and Thursday 9:45-10:45AM at the chapel. Interment will be held in the Vernal Memorial Park. Online condolences may be shared at www.AshleyValleyFuneralHome.com
