Jo Ann Young Richey

JoAnn Young was born on February 6, 1929 in Pittsburg, Texas to William Young & Gertrude Richards Young. She was the youngest of five children who grew up during the Great Depression. Her father worked as a mechanic, and her mother was a homemaker. They grew up poor, but that only instilled in her the drive to have a better life for herself and her family.

She graduated from Sunset High School, Class of ’45. JoAnn was very smart and studious. She was double promoted in school, hence graduating at age 16. Soon after high school, she met the love of her life, John D. Richey. The late John D. Richey said that they met one day when he was playing his guitar outside his apartment. She was “flirting” with him, but he played hard to get. It was love at first sight. After a short engagement, they married in 1948 and were married 40 years until his passing in 1988. They had three children, Beverly, Martha & Charles. JoAnn worked in human resources for more than 55 years for various companies. She retired at the youthful age of 78 from Metals USA, due to her illness.

JoAnn, in her younger years, enjoyed playing softball and bowling. She had a knack for baking home-made candies and goodies for the holidays. Her children’s friends considered her to be the “fun mom”. Every Sunday she made a big meal for the family to come have dinner together after church. She was a woman of strong faith and very active in the church. She was a Sunday school teacher, sang in the church choir, and was a member of the finance committee at Wildwood Baptist Church. She liked feeding the birds and caring for stray animals. She always enjoyed working picture puzzles. She was very caring, gentle, and loving. This was our JoAnn.

On Saturday, September 20, 2014, JoAnn Richey was called Home to meet her Lord & Savior. She was greeted in Heaven by her loving husband, John D. Richey.

Her life and legacy will continue to be celebrated and remembered by her children: Beverly Miller & her husband Steve of Longview; Martha Balko & her husband Glen of Dallas; Charles Richey & his wife Kathie of Tyler; grandchildren: Shelley, Scott, John, Tanya, Stephanie, Adam, & Chad; great-grandchildren: Jamie, Nikki, Channing, Zachary, Katie, Kamryn, Carson, Lance, Trevor, Megan, Taylor, Paige, Kaleb, Hannah, Madeline, & Landon.

The Richey Family would like to acknowledge Heritage Nursing Home ~ Longview Staff for the loving care given to JoAnn Richey.