Jean Richard

Jean Richard

May 23, 1931 - Oct. 26, 2015

ST. FRANCIS, Kan. -- Jean Ann Richard was born on May 23, 1931, in Gunnison, Colorado, and adopted at the age of four months by William Douglas and Blanche (Morehouse) McDowell. As a young girl she grew up on the family farm in Kansas between Bird City and Benkelman, Nebraska. She attended country grade school and graduated from Bird City High School in 1949. She was also the football homecoming queen that year.

Jean married Leo John Richard at the United Methodist Church in Benkelman on April 29, 1951. The couple briefly lived in Benkelman before settling on a farm southwest of town in Cheyenne County, Kansas. Jean and Leo remained on the farm for many years, raising six children, before moving to St. Francis because of health reasons.

As a young lady, Jean was employed as a nurse's aide at the Morehouse Hospital and the Sarah Ann Hester Home in Benkelman. She was a member of the Rebekahs, the South Fork Circle and a 4-H cooking leader for many years. Jean enjoyed sewing, cooking and baking. She spent many years providing meals in the field for her family. She loved to garden and raise flowers. Jean's greatest love, however, was her grandchildren.

Jean passed away Monday, Oct. 26, 2015, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center in St. Francis, Kansas. She was 84 years of age.

Survivors include sons, Brent Richard of Tucson, Arizona, Brad Richard of St. Francis, Mark Richard and wife, Geneva, of Macon, Missouri, and Chris Richard and wife, Lisa, of Aurora, Colorado; daughters, Pam Moses and husband, Boyce,of Hutchinson, Kansas and Pat Baalman and husband, Dan, of Colby, Kansas; 10 grandchildren, Casey, Shane, Marie, Melissa, Nick, David, Rachel, Michael, Chad, and Cole; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Jackie Lutz of Benkelman and Mary Jo Haack and husband, Melvin, of Loveland, Colorado.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leo; and a half --sister, Winona Neilan.

Funeral services will be Thursday morning, October 29, 2015, 10:30 a.m. (MT) at the Benkelman Community Building in Benkelman, Nebraska, with Pastor Sheila Taylor officiating. Interment will follow at the Benkelman Cemetery.

Private family visitation only.

A memorial has been established in Jean's memory

Online condolences can be left at liewerfuneralhome.com

Benkelman Memorial Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.