Published: October 22, 2009 08:47 pm      

John A. Richards

Services for John A. Richards, 55, of Corsicana, are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Pattison Cemetery in Emhouse.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home.

“Big John,” as most knew him, was a 1972 graduate of Corsicana High and a lifelong resident of the city. He was a member of Northside Baptist Church. Big John was a man whose name fit his stature. His large personality and robust love for life was exceeded only by his love of family and friends. Big John was a business owner for many years and was also involved in his community. He was a coach in the Corsicana Teen-Age Baseball Association for many years at all levels. In 1994 he was a coach for the state champion senior league Corsicana White Sox and a past board member of the local league.

John was a devoted family man. He loved family gatherings, loved to laugh and joke — his booming voice and infectious laugh filling a room. He was born Feb. 8, 1954, to Fred Richards Sr. and Marjorie Bennett Richards in Corsicana. He passed away Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, at his home.

He is survived by his mother, Marjorie Richards; his wife of 24 years, Jackie Richards; one son, Clayton Richards of Corsicana; four daughters, Malissa Bullard and Jennifer Ragland of Corsicana, Julie Waller (Darrell) of Mildred and Kristen Michaud (Mitch) of Teague; four grandsons, Keith Bullard, Clay Waller, Bryce Richards and Jacob Castillo; two granddaughters, Callie Waller and Haley Waller; one brother and sister-in-law, Fred Richards Jr. (Rosellen) Richards of Navarro; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Tommy and Jill Davis of Malakoff; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Chip and Kim Souza of Bella Vista, Ark.; nephews, Gary Richards of Virginia, Brian Richards of Navarro, Jared Souza, Jake Souza and Josh Souza of Arkansas, Tommy Davis of Forney and Lesley Davis of Garland; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father and a niece, Kristi Davis Hanisch.

Pallbearers will be Lynn Shelton, Scott McCreary, Brian Richards, Ray Jacobs, Russell Ybarra, Monty Casbeer, Cody Callahan, Randy Dill, Keith Bullard and Clay Waller. Honorary pallbearers will be Darrell Waller, Troy Bullard, Vernon Sonnier, Russell Ralston, Troy Allison, Bryan Latham and Bobby Shults.

An online guest book is available at www.griffin-roughton.com by selecting the John Richards obituary.

Arrangements by Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home. ∞