111About 250 people attended a memorial service held at the Elks Naval Lodge in Port Angeles that afternoon to remember the recently remarried father of two as a devoted family man, good friend and coworker.
Transportation worker Jim Hart, who was supervised by Mr. Richards, said at the memorial service that his former boss was “living proof of how kind a person can be.”
“He was a devoted father, a good friend,” said Hart, one of 10 people who spoke about what Mr. Richards meant to them at the memorial service.
“To sum up his life, he was earnest and he was loyal.”
Said Mr. Richards’ 12-year-old son, Tristin, who spoke at the memorial along with his brother, Cameron, 10: “My dad was always good to us, and I hope that he knows that.”
The Forks native who lived in Sequim was buried at about noon at Sequim View Cemetery after the long line ofTransportation trucks, State Patrol cars, Clallam County Public Utility District vehicles, and Patriot Guard motorcycles escorted his casket and family from Drennan & Ford Funeral Home in Port Angeles.
State flag
At the graveside services, representatives of Transportation and Gov. Chris Gregoire’s office gave his widow, Callie Richards, the state flag that flew over the Capitol at half-staff Monday in his honor.
Condolence letters from Gregoire also were given to Mr. Richards’ widow — who he had married in August, only a few months before his death — and to his parents, Gordon and Willena Richards of Forks.
Approximately 15 to 20 Transportation workers, many wearing orange armbands, also attended his memorial service.
Mr. Richards — a former Forks police officer — had worked for Transportation for 11 years, and was a maintenance lead technician when he was killed Nov. 18 as he worked on the side of U.S. Highway 101 in Indian Valley, about 11 miles west of Port Angeles.
He was working with a crew of five other Transportation employees when a nearby limb fell, hit him and killed him.
Cared for family
Kaelee Barnes, a friend of Callie Richards, said she learned from Mr. Richards’ example of how to raise a family.
Barnes, who was raised in Forks but now lives in Shelton, said she spoke with him not long before his death of how to be a good parent and wife to her soon-to-be husband.
“I can’t take that for granted,” Barnes said.
“He told me . . . exactly how you should treat your family.”
Barnes then turned to look at Mr. Richards’ two boys and his stepchildren, Gretchen, Gavin and Gabrielle Happe.
“He loved you so much,” she said.
“I want you to all know that you are loved.”
Transportation Deputy Secretary David Dye said that, while he didn’t know Mr. Richards, he was part of the department’s family.
“I just want you to know that we are here today, and in the weeks and years to come,” he told Mr. Richards’ family.
“WashDOT takes care of its family, and you are part of our family.”
Mr. Richards was preceded in death by a sister — who also died on Highway 101 — and a brother.
Lynette M. Anderson was killed at the age of 49 while working as a Lakewood Industries flagger on the highway south of Brinnon in June 2008. She was struck by a dump truck that was backing up.
Mike Richards drowned in June 1991, said Mr. Richards’ brother, Lane Richards of Port Angeles, while he helped to organize the services earlier this week.
“This funeral thing is not something we ever wanted to be good at or used to,” he said then.
A Neal Richards Memorial Fund, which will help pay for his children’s education, has been set up at Bank of America. Contributions can be made at any branch.
A graduate of Forks High School, Mr. Richards was a member of the Army National Guard from 1985 to 1987. He married Caroline “Callie” S. Happe in Long Beach. His marriage to his first wife, Sherri Huling, ended in divorce.
In addition to his children and stepchildren, wife, parents, and brother, Lane, Mr. Richards is survived by his brothers Chuck and Brian of Forks, Darren of Port Angeles and sister Angela Voyles of Forks.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.