Richard Lee Elliott

Richard Lee “Papa” Elliott, 93, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family Wednesday May 21, 2025, at his home in Bryan, Tx. Visitation will be from 4p-6p on Saturday May 24th at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan, Tx. Funeral Services are set for 10am on Tuesday May 27th at Memorial Funeral Chapel. Internment will follow at Gause Cemetery, with full Military and Masonic Rites.

Richard was born August 17, 1931, in Wheelock to Richard Edgar “Dick” Elliott and wife Pauline (Zweifel) Elliott. He was an active member in numerous community organizations including Past Master of Cedar Creek Lodge #300 in Kurten, Tx, a member of the American Legion in Bryan and Hearne, VFW- Bryan, Northview Baptist Church and past member of the Bryan Square Dancing Association and Shriners.

Papa was the life of the party and loved everyone he met. He joined the US Navy in 1951 and was aboard the USS McKeen and USS Phillip. Richard met the love of his life, Juanita Kirk, and they were married in 1972. They spent most of their lives traveling to every US state together with many trips including their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family. He was an avid outdoorsman, and his hobbies included: dancing, rodeoing, hunting, “crappy” fishing and going to the lake house at Lake Limestone. When Papa was around there was always a story to be told and a laugh to be had. Hunting trips with his nephew Scott and cousin Andy, working cattle as the foreman with his son Guber, running trot lines with Weldon and Howard, days waiting in the principal’s office under the clock with Charles Joe, nights out dancing and Christmas spent at Granny’s with his grandchildren and family were some of his favorite stories to tell. Many will remember Papa by his 9 toes (one on a keychain), for his big heart and welcoming hug, his silly jokes, having to ‘pick a switch’ if you were bad, always having a drink in his hand, drinking coffee from a bowl, his numerous fish fry’s, always killing a deer on opening morning and likely not having a shirt on.

He is proceeded in death by his parents, wife Juantia; daughter-in-law Teresa Taylor; brother Bill Elliott; sister Minnie Gardner; sisters-in-law Jean Hafley and June Huff; brothers-in-law Floyd Hafley and Howard Watson.

He is survived by his sons Fred (Debbie) Taylor, Chesley “Guber” Taylor, Karl (Ellen) Taylor; daughter Kathy Boykin; sister Wanda (Charles) Todd; bothers-in-law Charles Gardner, Weldon (Edna) Kirk, Gene Huff; sister-in-law Kay Watson; grandchildren Brandi Doshier, Kerri Thorp, Karl Allen Taylor, Ben Boykin, Kasey Boykin Mathews, Kody Taylor; 10 great grandchildren- Wesley Doshier, Kadi Thorp, Barbara Taylor, Kyrbi Thorp, Kindsi Thorp, Roan Boykin, Elliott Boykin, Josh Taylor, Jolene Mathews and Atlas Mathews; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family who loved him deeply including his dear friend Sue Meadors.

The family would like to send a heartfelt Thank You to Concho Hearts Hospice- nurses Kobie (his favorite hospice nurse), Ashley and Rachel, the Home Instead team including Jessica, Brandi, Mary and Jill and palliative NP, April Derkowski. We could not have done it without each one of you!

Memorials may be made to Gause Cemetery Association, Wheelock Cemetery or Northview Baptist Church.