Richard Gene Friedley

Richard Gene Friedley, born on September 5, 1962, passed away on January 8, 2026, at the age of 63. A resident of League City, Texas, Richard lived his life with a quiet faith and a steady devotion to the people around him. He believed in God and carried that belief not through grand declarations, but through the way he showed up for others—consistently, humbly, and without ever expecting anything in return.

For 40 years, Richard served with the Galveston County Sheriff’s Department, giving his community the very best of himself day after day. He was a brother to four siblings—Diana, Robert, Debbie, and Denien—and the proud father of one daughter, Amber, who remained the center of his heart throughout his life. Richard is preceded in death by his mother, Linda, and his baby sister, Denien. He leaves behind his daughter, two sisters, four nieces, and two nephews, all of whom will forever feel the imprint of his love, loyalty, and steady presence.

Richard had a personality you couldn’t miss. He could be loud, unfiltered, and absolutely unafraid to give you a piece of his mind—and somehow, that honesty was part of what made him so deeply loved. Beneath that tough exterior was a man who would do anything for you if you simply asked. He kept to himself, but his heart was wide open when someone needed help. He never missed a chance to show up for his niece, especially at all those father–daughter basketball games where his presence meant everything.

He found joy in simple things: playing golf, bowling, and sharing daily work lunches with his coworkers—lunches he never let anyone else pay for, even when they tried to outsmart him by showing up early. Taking care of people was his quiet love language, and the Sheriff’s Department wasn’t just his workplace; it was his home and his family too.

One of Richard’s greatest joys was working with the kids at the schools he helped keep safe. He had a soft spot for them, and they brought out a gentler side of him that not everyone got to see. Every Christmas, he would work with school counselors to find families he could help, making sure children had gifts and joy during the holidays. And of course, he loved his truck—a small but unmistakable part of who he was.

Richard’s life was built on service, faith, loyalty, and a stubborn kind of generosity that made the world around him better. He will be missed more than words can express, but his spirit lives on in the countless lives he touched with his honesty, his humor, and his unwavering heart.

A visitation will be held at Forest Park East Funeral Home, Webster, Texas, on January 23, 2026, from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. The funeral service will follow at the funeral home at 10:00 am, with the committal service at Forest Park East Cemetery at 11:00 am.