Clifton E. Richards
May 9, 2003

Mrs. Clifton E. Richards, age 83, of 1123 Shady Acres Lane, Quincy, died Wednesday, May 9, 2003 in her home.

She was born November 6, 1919 in Canton, Missouri the daughter of Bige and Lettie DeWitt Johnson. On November 11, 1939, she married Carl Richards in Canton Methodist Church, Canton, MO. He survives.

She graduated from Gravel Hill School and attended Canton High School. She and her husband Carl lived in Lancaster, MO until Carl entered the Navy during WWII. During the war she lived and worked on Staten Island, NY. When Carl was transferred to the Pacific she returned to Canton until the end of the war. In 1954, she helped Carl found Richards Electric Motor Company, which still prospers. They lived in Ursa until 1964 when they moved to Quincy. She was a member of Vermont Street United Methodist Church. She was an animal lover who fed birds and raised African violets. She was an accomplished seamstress, she liked to fish with her husband at the Lake of the Ozarks, and she loved to fly.

Survivors in addition to her husband are 3 nephews, Kirt Brinkley and his wife Karma, LaGrange, MO; Norm Richards and his wife Linda, St. Charles, MO; Lynn Richards and his wife Ellen, Kansas City, MO; 2 nieces, Barbara Tripp and her husband John, Quincy; Ginny Richards, Springfield, IL; several great nieces and great nephews including Allen Brinkley, Maywood, MO and Kara Brinkley, Columbia, MO. She was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister Lucretia Brinkley.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 am Monday, May 12, 2003 at the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home, Rev. David Alberts and Rev. George Youtzy officiating. Burial will be in Forest Grove Cemetery, Canton, Missouri. The family will receive friends from 4-7 pm Sunday at the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to Blessing Foundation for Hospice or Vermont Street United Methodist Church.

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