Kenneth G. Richardson

Kenneth G. Richardson, age 89, died on Monday, July 27, 2015, at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City, Mo. His wife Margie, the love of his life, was at his side, and they were surrounded by their children and grandchildren. Kenny was born April 14, 1926, in Corder, Mo., to Norwood and Edith Johnson Richardson. He was the oldest of eight children, and his family moved to Brunswick, Mo., when Kenny was a freshman. Kenny was 15 when he first saw Margie (who was 14), and for him it was love at first sight. He immediately decided that he would marry her, although it took him a few years to persuade her. After Kenny's sophomore year, his family relocated to Seattle, but he stayed in Brunswick and supported himself. At the beginning of Kenny's junior year, his father was seriously injured, and Kenny moved to Seattle to support his family by working two full-time jobs in the defense industry while he also completed his studies through correspondence courses. When his father recovered, Kenny returned to Brunswick where he courted Margie, played on the BHS basketball team (as captain), and graduated from high school. In 1944, Kenny was inducted into the Army, and he served in the European Theater as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant before he received an honorable discharge in 1946. On June 9, 1946, Kenny married his high school sweetheart, Margie Spence, who remained his sweetheart during their marriage of 69 years. For several years Kenny worked for his father-in-law, Romie Spence, as a Capper's salesman. Then in 1954 he was hired by Kansas City Power and Light, and he and Margie settled in Brunswick. Kenny worked for Kansas Ci9ty Power and Light for 39 years as a lineman, a dispatcher, and a field construction supervisor. Kenny joined the Baptist Church when he was 13, and he later became an ordained deacon. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Brunswick and served in many roles, including Sunday School supervisor. Kenny belonged to the Warren Masonic Lodge # 74 of Keytesville, Mo., and was recently honored as a 50-year member. He was also a member of Scottish Rite, Ararat Shrine Temple of Kansas City. Kenny served for 12 years as president of the Brunswick School Board, he was a Scoutmaster, he was an active supporter of the Busy Brunswickers 4-H Club, and he belonged to the American Legion and VFW. Kenny loved his family, and they adored him. On weekends and during vacations, the Richardson home, Locust Hill, was filled with their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends. Each Thanksgiving, Kenny and Margie hosted Thanksgiving dinner for 60-70 family members, and each Christmas four generations celebrated at their home. Until he was 87, Kenny always decorated their house with Christmas lights, which required him to climb a 40-foot ladder while carrying a 20-foot ladder that would enable him to reach the top of the house. Many Brunswick children know Kenny and Margie because every Halloween the Richardsons decorated their yard and house and invited everyone to trick or treat. Typically 100 little ghosts, witches, and goblins visited Locust Hill, showed off their costumes, and posed for photos. When the trick-or-treaters returned the following Halloween, they received pictures of themselves from the previous year. Kenny was an environmentalist who "reduced, reused, and recycled" long before such actions became fashionable. For years he collected boxes of plastic medicine bottles from the pharmacy in Salisbury and transported them to the recycling center in Brunswick. He loved trees, and throughout his life, he planted trees on his farm and in the yards of multiple friends and neighbors. Kenny is survived by his wife Margie, and their four children: Melody Daily (and Bill), Glasgow, Mo.; Romie Richardson (and Michelle), San Antonio, Texas; Johnny Richardson (and Marsha), Jefferson City, Mo.; and Scarlett Richardson (and Chris Shortal), Columbia, Mo. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Shannon Daily Stokes, Erin Daily, Claudia Richardson Wickham, Camden Daily, Kylene Richardson, Megan Richardson Geissinger, Lyndsy Richardson, Jeremy Richardson, Taylor Shortal, and Maggie Richardson; by 10 great-grandchildren: Zeke Stokes, Tanner Richardson, Cecilia Stokes, Reese Wickham, Kaiden Geissinger, Weston Wickham, Xavier Stokes, Declan Melton, Britton Geissinger, and Asher Melton; and by his sister-in-law, Joan Greenwood, and his brother-in-law, J.P. Richardson. Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Norwood and Edith Johnson Richardson; his brothers, Russell, Jerry, John, and Jack; and his sisters, Pat and Shirley. Funeral services will be held at Brunswick Baptist Church on Saturday, August 1, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. Masonic services will be at the church Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and will be followed by visitation from 9:45- 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in the Elliott Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jeff Arp, Gene Morrow, Tom Rosser, Les Sears, Paul Vossler, and Gary Woolston. Honorary pallbearers will be Harold Breshears, Gene Gooch, Steve Harmon, Sam Johnson, Dale Kuhlman, Mike McHugh, Cliff Richardson, and J.P. Richardson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or Shriners Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO.