Sky James Soley Richford

With broken hearts, we share the sudden passing of Skylor James Soley Richford, Sky to everyone who knew and loved him on February 15, 2026, at the age of 39. Sky died in a tragic car accident caused by an impaired driver.

Sky was born on May 30, 1986, in Seattle, Washington, to Jeff and Joy Richford. He grew up in the Edmonds home that held so many of his childhood memories.

From a young age, Sky was creative to his core. Art and music weren’t just hobbies, they were who he was. He graduated from Meadowdale High School in 2004 and earned his Associate Degree in Fine Arts from Shoreline Community College, but his real magic happened behind a drum kit.

Music was his heartbeat. He first played in Cambered Souls alongside his cousin Gabrielle. He later became the drummer for the punk band Everything Sux, where he built lifelong friendships and became a beloved part of Seattle’s punk community. Most recently, he played with The Cascadian Divide, co-writing songs and pouring his soul into every show. He wasn’t just keeping time he was the heartbeat of the band.

Outside of music, Sky worked in the machine shop industry before bravely deciding to go back to school during Covid to learn welding. Since March 2022, he worked at Travis Industries, a job he truly loved. The friendships he made there went far beyond the workplace.

In 2016, Sky met the love of his life, Mathilde Louvel, a French girl who completely stole his heart. They married on November 18, 2017, and celebrated again on September 14, 2018, surrounded by friends and family from both sides of the world. Together they built a life filled with laughter, music, road trips, and adventure. They adopted two pugs, Lily and later Louna, who became their whole world. The four of them were inseparable.

Sky was the life of the party. He was funny, outgoing, magnetic, and the kind of person who made everyone feel like a friend. He loved loud music, deep conversations, spontaneous fun, and being surrounded by his people. He showed up fully in love, in friendship, in creativity, in life.

He is survived by his wife, Mathilde; his beloved pugs Lily and Louna; his father Jeff; his mother Joy; and his sister Mallory, along with countless cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends who feel this loss deeply. He is also survived by his father-in-law Patrick, mother-in-law Yolande, sister-in-law Melanie (François), brother-in-law Adrien (Lucie), and his nephews and niece.

Sky’s loss is sudden, shocking, and impossible to understand. There are no words big enough for the hole he leaves behind. The punk world lost a force. His family lost a son and brother. Mathilde lost her best friend and the love of her life.

If Sky ever made you laugh, played a show you’ll never forget, shared a drink, a story, or a moment with you, we invite you to share a memory or photo. We will treasure every single one.

A Celebration of Sky’s life will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 12:00 noon at Floral Hills Cemetery, 409 Filbert Road, Lynnwood, Washington, 98036.

To honor Sky, please wear black, his favorite color.