Richard Thomas Mayes, Sr.

Richard Thomas Mayes, Sr., age 90, went to be with his Lord on November 13, 2015 in Raleigh, NC. Known to his family and friends as “Richard”, his navy comrades as “Doc”, and his business colleagues as “Dick”; it was always easy to determine how someone knew Richard by the name he was called. Richard was admired and respected by all who knew him.

Richard grew up in Anniston, Alabama before serving his country in the Navy in 1943. At the age of 18, Richard became a coxswain in the South Pacific where he was part of the invasion of Peleliu in the Palau Islands which became one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. He drove amphibious boats that landed marines on the beach. He always said, “the boat had double screws and I could parallel park the thing.” Richard was always proud of his military service. In recent years, one of his best navy buddies went around the country to locate navy comrades and get them together for reunions. They started out with over 30 guys with their spouses and have only a few guys left. It was exciting to see how they remembered each other, shared pictures, stories and their lifelong experiences.

After returning from the war, Richard married his sweetheart, Ethel Earlene Harmon of Anniston, AL. He graduated from Jacksonville State University with a double major in biology and chemistry. Richard and Ethel started a family with two sons, Tom and Warren. He started his professional career in Decatur, Alabama as a research chemist for Chemstrand. In 1960 he moved to Apex, NC and started working in the Research Triangle Park for Chemstrand, which later changed its name to Monsanto. In 1963, he moved to Raleigh and lived in a home he had built and resided for over 51 years. While working for Monsanto he developed a patent and enjoyed a long 31 year career with the company.

After retiring from Monsanto, Richard said he missed being around people and liked being busy all the time so he started working with collectible gifts. He always thought people did not “need” anything that was sold in a collectible gift store but customers had discretionary income and would probably be nice to be around. It was probably the other way around. People loved being around him – even the children.

Richard and Ethel loved their neighborhood of Brookhaven in northwest Raleigh. After 48 years of marriage, Richard lost his wife to cancer. Again, wanting to stay busy, Richard became very involved in collectibles and joined Providence Baptist Church. There, as an active single, Richard made many new friends and met his current bride, Emily Page Mayes from Columbia, South Carolina. They have been married for 16 years and have a wonderful, loving and nurturing relationship. They adored one another and were perfect partners. Their twenty-five year age difference was never an issue. They enjoyed doing everything together, from the grocery shopping to gardening. Gardening was a passion for the both of them. Richard said he always enjoyed the walkers in the neighborhood because they would stop by and admire his efforts. When Emily had to go inside, he loved taking all the credit with a great big chuckle. He loved telling a good joke, had that contagious gut laugh, and had many a story to share. He was a man of great wisdom and could keep you entertained for hours.

Richard was a man of great integrity. He loved music of all kinds from classical to country and Christian. After working hard in the yard, he would go into the house and serenade his bride. Richard had a life that was well lived. His Christian core came through as a caring, giving, loving human being. His blue eyes lit up a room and those cherub cheeks would always make you smile. He may have been a man of small stature but he was a giant among men. He loved animals, most especially his long-term dachshund, Redboy, and most recently his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Rosie. He had an overwhelming love for his mother who taught him to be a Southern gentleman and a principled man who always wanted to do the right thing. In a favorite poem, The Dash, which refers to the dash on a graveside marker, it states, “For it matters not, how much we own; The cars, the house, the cash, What matters is how we live and love, And how we spend our dash.” He lived a great dash.

Richard suffered from a stroke and other complications while at home for the past five years. Emily dedicated herself to learning everything possible about his condition and treatments to provide him the best care possible. Richard was always comfortable at home and felt he had the best nurse on the planet. Their love and affection for one another was evident to every doctor, nurse, caregiver and anyone who knew them. He appreciated everything his nursing assistants and medical teams did for him. He rarely complained. He was always quick to complement and express appreciation. As long as he was home, he was happy. It took so little to please him. He felt he was in a happy place. Now he will be in a happier place.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Earl Jason Mayes, Sr., and Amelia Saks Young of Anniston, AL; his sister, Janice Mundinger of Kansas City, KS, his brother, Earl Jason Mayes, Jr, of Anniston and his sister Millie Wood of Texas. He is survived by his beloved wife, Emily Page Mayes of Raleigh, his son, Richard Thomas Mayes, Jr., of Raleigh, and his son Warren Mitchell Mayes and his wife Mary Lyons (Randy) Mayes of Castellia, NC. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at Mitchell Funeral Home from 2:00 to 4:00 PM on Sunday, November 15, 2015. A memorial service to celebrate Richard’s life will be held Monday, November 16, 2015 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to your favorite charity in Richard’s honor.