Our condolences go out to your family  and friends. I/ we think of you often, especially on the first Saturday in May. I know you are still handicapping the pony's up there and bluffing on a few hands too! You are thought of often,  but never more than today.  At your house, or my brothers, at the track, or the wagon wheel, those are the times I miss. 6 and 9 are two #'s I will bet on for the rest of my time. ✌

I still miss you my friend.  I wish upon wish, that we could have had that one moment again.  I will never forget your kind gentle nature and how you rescued the big gray bunny who lived out his life in the woods behind your house.  You, my dear friend, are greatly missed and will always remain in my heart.

My friend forever, I will miss your light. I love you forever, I like you for always, as long as I'm living, my friend you will be

"If you should ask me to give you, the reason for life that we know...then  together we flow like a river. & together we melt like the snow"  Traffic ... Ric's favorite group. I'll keep looking for Traffic symbols on the back of black jeeps in my rear view mirror! Dale: used to play w/you & Koski's on Wisconsin, ran into Ric at Ma Bell. A truly special soul!  Rob:my kids went to SHS w/your son, plz know your bro was a free spirit who meant a lot to people in his unique way. A truly Freebird! 
Not sure what made me google him tonight, but didn't expect this!  So sad but I'm sure we 'll meet again in the next life !

I grew up on Reservoir Road just three houses over from Ric. And I still live on this street today. Ric was a friend and neighbor to not only me but my parents through the years while I was growing up. My memories of Ric was his kindness towards animals, his love of his property/woods and splitting wood to heat his house. When we moved to Reservoir in the 70s he had a dog named Brandy that patrolled the properties and seemed to be the watch dog of the neighborhood.  Me being an animal lover myself, I can probably name all his dogs over the years that he loved and would take for walks every day. Ric enjoyed his privacy but he always made time to stop and talk to me at the mailbox. We would laugh about being the "old timers" on Reservoir. Even though we didn't see each other all the time with the distance between properties, I always felt comfort knowing he was just through the woods at his place. There was something about hearing him splitting wood through the yards that I think I will forever hear. Reservoir will not be the same without you, Ric. I am very glad I got to know you. You were always a kind person and I am glad you were my neighbor for all the years. I will miss you.

I love you and will miss you very much brother! May you find peace.

ive known ric from racetrack 4 yrs just became friends with him a couple months ago, he was a hell of handicapper! told him I was going to start sitting with him at end of june to learn about candian racetracks I waited for two weeks he never showed then this happened iam dumbfounded!god rest his soul!

There is no sadness in this world that God cannot heal. May you find comfort in knowing that He is providing the strength you need to endure the days ahead.   

C Johnson

My God Ric.  To find you again and lose you before being able to see you and talk to you.  You were a sweet man always kind and gentle.  You fit in so well in your house in the woods with it's walls of books, gigantic fireplace and quiet serenity.  I will always wonder why I was not given the chance to see you one more time before your leaving.  I guess only you and God know that answer.  May your friends and family know peace in the days ahead.  I know that every time I see a horse race, I'll think of you and know that your somewhere up there looking down at the horses and placing a bet.  Rest in peace my friend.

Ric was a very special friend.  Always gentle and kind.  He fit right in so well in his house in the woods with the walls of books, the great fireplace as the only source of heat and his kindness to animals.  I only wish I could have talked to you one more time before you left this earth.  May your family find peace in the days ahead since your passing.  You will be greatly missed by myself and so many others.  I'm hoping your up there watching the horses at this very moment.  God rest my friend.

Ric was a good friend starting back in 1964 growing up in Livonia.  Things we did together include working at Schroder's (6 Mile & Newburgh), playing poker all night at Torok's and playing 18 holes of golf right afterwords, trying to get him to invite me over on a hot summer day to swim in his parents pool, riding in his 1956 T-Bird, concerts at the Eastown and Grande Ballroom in Detroit, attending Stevenson High School and Schoolcraft College, working at Stereoland, playing chess for money, poker games in the winter at his Northville Road house with the only source of heat being the fireplace.....

Sorry to hear of your passing Ric.  I'll bet by now you've already won a poker game or two in the next life.

Ric was a great co-worker always willing to help out.  He was quiet but always did his job.  My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Ric was a good friend to those who worked with him at AT&T. Generally quiet but made a legendary exit when he retired. Always kind and helpful. He will be missed by us all.

Ric was our neighbor of 12 years.  He retired shortly after we moved-in.  I still remember his answer to my question, What are you going to do with your time?..."sleep in, hang out, and cut wood."  Ric loved his place in the woods and his privacy, but he always had time for a wave and a smile - or to lend a helping hand.  Memories of Ric walking up the hill with Max and the sound of splitting wood will never fade.

Bob and Dale - Sorry for your family loss. I remember Ric a little. It's been many years since I've seen either of you.

I have been looking for you ever since I moved back to Michigan. So sad to find you this way. My prayers are with you and with your family. You will be missed
 Tell my parents i love them. Love you Ric.

Ric was a great neighbor & he will be missed by all of us in the hood.

My condolences to the Abernethy family. Ric was a joy to work with....a class act in his jeans and boots...never an unkind word...always a gentleman to me. Rest in peace Ric.
Sharon Harris-an MBT/Acacia retireree

My condolences to the Abernethy family. Ric was a joy to work with....a class act in jeans and boots....never an unkind word, always a gentleman to me. Rest in peace Ric.

I am in shock reading this. Ric you will be missed by so many people. Loved working with you all those years. What a wonderful friend you were to all of us.

May your family find peace in this time of sadness and sorrow.

Dawn Lafferty
Michigan Bell, Ameritech, SBC, AT&T

OBITUARY

Ric Abernethy

February 21, 1953 – July 2, 2014

Harry J Will Funeral Homes

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