Remembering my Dear Friend Ricky Chou

Generosity comes in many ways, and Ricky’s generosity is the kind that knew no bounds. Ricky struck me as the kindest soul on this earth the moment I met him over 30 years ago. Since then his friendship and energy never failed to inspire, encourage, and bring comfort in every season of my life. Ricky was a gem of a friend who will continue to live in my heart as he is resting from his labors in the loving arms of God.          

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” 2Thessalonians 2:16-17



I am so very sorry for your loss. I only just met him 4/27/19 through the Texas Country Reporter and the lovely story they did about him. I hope you don’t mind me leaving you a note. I so enjoyed his belief of hope , the kindness in his voice. But most of his heartfelt love in his watercolor paintings. Beauty in his soul expressed so well thru his passion of painting. As I looked for his name on line an for more of his work, I learned of his passing. Your sorrow must be great and I am sorry in your loss of someone who meant so much to you. His recorded story was my blessing for today. Thank you.
Jackie

(Part 1 of 2)

RICKY CHOU'S MASTERPIECE

Before Karen and I moved from Midland on April 7, I had an unusual desire to look up an old friend before we left town. For some reason I can't explain, I wanted to make contact again with a gentle soul with whom I had become friends over the years but hadn't seen in a while.

Regrettably, I ignored the feeling, telling myself I’d look him up on one of several business trips that would lead me back to Midland in future months. And so Karen and I left town, bringing to a close a 30-year association with our hometown.

On Tuesday of this week, I received a message from a young woman, the daughter of my friend that I had hoped to see. She told me her dad had been killed in an automobile accident a couple of weeks earlier.

He died April 6. The day before Karen and I left town. And right about the time I had decided to maybe call on him the next time I was in town. My heart broke and an emptiness filled me.

Wing Cheung Chou was my friend. I loved him like a brother even though we hadn’t seen each other in years. Most people knew him as Ricky. Many probably didn’t even know they knew him. For many years, it seemed like he was always working at the H-E-B on Wadley, making flour tortillas, wrapping them gently in wax tissue, spraying a light screen of pump butter over them and handing them to whoever was lucky enough to be walking by.

Ricky, born in Canton, China, but a Midlander since 1968, taught me several things about life; pride in workmanship being near the top. He put as much into his work in the tortilla factory as he did in his brilliant Chinese watercolors. He is the finest artist I have ever known. And I’m not sure anyone was quite as proud of his family as he was.

But what I learned most from Ricky is to never judge anyone. Who knew that behind this friendly HEB worker lie a brilliantly-talented watercolorist. Until you take the time to sit and talk with someone, you never know what makes them tick. 

(continued) ...

(Part 2)

 Ten years ago, when word of Ricky's talents grew beyond Midland, Bob Phillips and Texas Country Reporter even came out and did a story on him. Ricky painted artwork for the covers of two of my earlier books, cowritten with Tom Morgan. And he once free-handed a portrait of Karen and I that made us both look 10 years younger, 10 pounds lighter and 10 times smarter. Man, he was good.

Several years ago, he painted the picture of the two fish below for me. One fish was beige covered in dark, uniform spots. Another was smaller, yet brightly colored with splotches of orange all over. The orange fish was nudging against the speckled fish, as if the two were friends. I asked Ricky what the painting meant. He told me something I've never forgotten …

“It says we met in this world, and we can enjoy each other. Because in this world we are the same. You are Western, I am Oriental. But we met and we can enjoy each other. The fish in the painting are different, but they are the same. They don't know each other but they can enjoy each other together. In the whole world everybody is strangers, but it doesn't mean we have to be enemies. I don't know you before, but we can understand each other and be friends."

How much we all need those words today. May Ricky’s spirit endure forever and continue to make the world a better place to live.

So sorry for the loss of a precious friend Ricky. Your family is in our prayers. 
I remember when Ricky first came to work for H-E-B.  We were hiring for a Tortilla person. He brought many paintings into interview for us to see. Ricky was so talented. Always had a smile, story to share.  I am so blessed to have many of his beautiful paintings. 
Thank you for blessing so many lives. Praying for all family.

OBITUARY

Wing "Ricky" Cheung Chou

August 1, 1949 – April 6, 2019

Ellis Resthaven Funeral Home and Memorial Park

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