PORT ANGELES — A procession of State Department of Transportation vehicles, escorted by the State Patrol and Patriot Guard Riders motorcycles, accompanies the family of a Sequim man who died clearing a fallen tree when they travel to the cemetery for funeral services today.
Neal Richards, 42 — an 11-year veteran of Transportation, father of two and recently married — was killed while clearing storm debris on U.S. Highway 101 on Nov. 18.
Lane Richards of Port Angeles, Mr. Richards’ brother, said he expected a large turnout.
“Because he was a DOT worker, they feel very strongly that he should be represented well,” he said.
The procession began at about 11:30 a.m. from Drennan & Ford Funeral Home, 260 Monroe Road, Port Angeles, and travel to the Sequim View Cemetery, 1505 Sequim-Dungeness Way, Sequim, for noon graveside services before a memorial is conducted at the Elks Naval Lodge, 131 E. First St., Port Angeles.
Both the graveside services and the memorial, which will be followed by a reception, are open to the public.
“We aren’t sure how many people will be coming for the caravan, but we do know that it will be well-attended, and there is no way to take all of those people downtown to the Elks, but they really wanted to be a part of this,” Lane Richards said Wednesday.
Mr. Richards was a Forks native who served as a Forks Police Department officer before joining Transportation. A graduate of Forks High School, Mr. Richards was a member of the Army National Guard from 1985 to 1987.
He was the father of two sons — Tristin, 12, and Cameron, 10, both of Port Angeles.
He had recently re-married, wedding Caroline “Callie” S. Happe in Long Beach, in August, and had moved to Sequim.
Share stories
At the memorial, those who knew him will be able to speak of their memories of him.
“We do not know all of the details at this point, but there will be a time to share stories about Neal,” said Lane Richards.
Mr. Richards, a maintenance lead technician, was working with a crew of five other Transportation employees removing a fallen tree from the side of U.S. Highway 101 in Indian Valley — about 11 miles west of Port Angeles — when a limb broke off from a nearby tree at about 10:30 a.m., hit him and killed him.
It wasn’t the first time the family had been struck by tragedy.
In June 2008, Lane and Neal Richards’ sister, Lynette M. Anderson, was struck by a dump truck and killed in June 2008 on U.S. Highway 101 south of Brinnon.
The 49-year-old Beaver woman was working as a Lakewood Industries flagger, directing trucks around the work site, when she was killed by a truck backing up.
Richards’ brother, Michael, also preceded him in death. He drowned in June 1991, said Lane Richards.
“This funeral thing is not something we ever wanted to be good at or used to,” he said.
Motorcyclists with Patriot Guard Riders — a national organization which makes appearances at memorial services for fallen soldiers, police and former police to honor them — began lining up at about 10:50 a.m., according to the group’s Web site.
Mr. Richards enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and coaching basketball for his children, his family said.
Memorial fund
A Neal Richards Memorial Fund has been set up at Bank of America, and contributions can be made at any branch.
“We appreciate the notes and words of encouragement from the public during this difficult time,” said Paula Hammond, state transportation secretary.
“We are tremendously saddened by Neal’s death.
“While we may never make sense of this tragic accident, I hope all of the WSDOT family will take a moment to remember Neal and his family during this Thanksgiving holiday.”
In addition to his wife, children and brother, survivors include Mr. Richards’ stepchildren Gretchen, Gavin and Gabrielle Happe, of Sequim; parents Gordon and Willena of Forks; brother Darren, of Port Angeles; and brothers Brian and Chuck and sister and brother-in-law Angie and Darren Voyles, all of Forks.
The family asks that memorials be made in the form of donations to the Neal Richards Memorial Fund at the Bank of America for the education of his children.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
