Richard Hart Mussey

Rick was born on April 14, 1950, in San Antonio, Texas, to Richard Clifford Mussey and Nelda Ruth Benton. He was raised in San Antonio alongside his older sister, Ronnie, and spent his childhood fishing, catching crabs, and walking the pier during summer vacations in Rockport, Texas. He also loved horseback riding at the family ranch in Vanderpool, and spent many summer days biking to the local YMCA pool to swim with friends.

Rick attended Hillcrest Elementary, Longfellow Junior High, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1969. Shortly after, he moved to Austin, a city he instantly connected with for its creative energy and love of the outdoors.

While living in Austin, Rick attended the University of Texas, where he explored the mountains of Mexico as part of his Latin American studies. He later returned to UT to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing in 1994. In 1998, he graduated at the top of his class from Texas Wesleyan University, where he trained as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Rick went on to serve patients across Texas for nearly 30 years, always guided by a deep commitment to helping and healing others.

In the 1980s, Rick met Sharon D’Anne Gambrell on a blind date shortly after injuring his wrist. They married in 1985 and raised two daughters, Paige and Megan. Though their marriage eventually ended in divorce, they maintained a lasting bond built on mutual care and respect.

At home in Austin, Rick was a familiar face in the Texas Card House poker community and a regular at weekly Texas Hold ’Em games. He was also a seasoned traveler and scuba diver, taking unforgettable trips with friends from Scubaland Adventures. His diving adventures took him around the globe—to Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Palau, and the Dominican Republic, where he once swam alongside humpback whales.

Rick was an avid sports fan who loved cheering on the UT Longhorns and the Houston Astros, and he never missed a FIFA World Cup. He also had a lifelong love of soccer, coaching youth teams with the same passion and enthusiasm he brought to all aspects of life. He had a heart for animals, especially dogs, and gave monthly to organizations like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Save the Children. Rick’s life was marked by quiet generosity, compassion, and a desire to give back however he could.

His happiest moments were often spent at the family ranch in Utopia, Texas, a place that always felt like home. From his childhood into adulthood, his heart belonged to the land. He hiked the hills, taught his daughters to ride horses, and gave them the gift of connection to nature and the freedom to explore the world with curiosity and wonder. Under the wide Hill Country sky, they spent evenings playing cards and building lasting memories together.

Rick had a natural talent for building and construction, completing many projects over the years. But the ones he cherished most were the ones at the ranch, especially those he worked on alongside his brother-in-law, Larry Retzloff. Whether restoring the ranch house or tackling a new project, Rick poured his creativity, care, and love for family into every detail.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Richard Clifford Mussey and Nelda Ruth Benton, and by his son-in-law, Jonathon Goris.

He is survived by his sister, Ronnie (Larry) Retzloff of San Antonio; his former wife, Sharon Mussey; his daughters, Paige Mussey and Megan (Aaron) Steely of Austin; and his grandchildren: Aubrie and Simone Goris, and Micah, Maddox, and Kingston Steely. He is also remembered with love by extended family, dear friends and colleagues, fellow divers, poker players, and the many others whose lives he touched with his kindness, humor, and unwavering spirit.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Rick’s honor to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8th at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas.