Friends and family will gather for visitation at Memorial Park Funeral Home’s Chapel of Memories on Friday, January 10, 2020 from 6pm to 8pm; located at 6969 E. Interstate 40. A celebration of Ricky’s amazing 61 years of life will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 10am at the Church of Christ at the Colonies, located at 4500 Wesley Rd in Amarillo, with Pastor Dick Marcear presiding. Ricky will be laid to rest in the Memorial Park Cemetery's Garden of Cross.
Ricky was born on November 3, 1958 in Scottsboro, Alabama to Alfred Lee and Mary Francis (Abney) Upton. Miraculously, Ricky was never expected to survive beyond infancy, but being the fighter he was, he went on to live a very full 61 years of life. He was a prankster and he loved to make you jump and wiggle by poking your side or putting his finger in your ear, anything to get a rise or maybe even a giggle. Ricky always knew that his medical papers listed him as “handicapped”. However, he was determined to show the world just how capable he was. He was the epitome of a mama’s boy and worked tirelessly to help support her, even winning the title of “Employee of the Month” on several occasions. Ricky was able to get himself through school where he met his late, life-long friend Glen McKeegan. Glen, we are sure, along with Ricky’s late father, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends were there at those pearly gates to greet Ricky and welcome him into Heaven. Although Ricky never married, he was very committed to his Lord and Savior, as well as his Dallas Cowboys. Ricky was generous, humble, and kind. He touched the lives of all who were blessed to know him.
He wasn’t meant to survive infancy, but God knew that he had created such a light, he had to leave him here to shine for a little bit longer.
Ricky is preceded in death by his father Alfred Lee Upton. Those left to cherish his memories are his mother Mary Francis Upton, siblings Cindy Fisher and husband Mike, Teressa Taylor and husband Don, and David Upton and wife Kim all of Amarillo.
