Shirley Richards

Shirley East Richards

November 6, 1927 ~ October 21, 2015

On a windy October 21, 2015 morning, heaven reclaimed one of their strongest, most courageous spirits, Shirley East Richards.

Shirley was born November 6, 1927 the daughter of Gilbert East and Mabel Marie Jacobsen of Warren, Utah. She was the third of four daughters and grew up with sisters Norma, Inez and Marguerite. She graduated from Weber High School.

She met and married William Alexander Richards; their marriage was solemnized in the Logan Temple on June 17, 1949. The military family moved to Texas and also lived in Roy, Utah before settling in Farr West. Shirley lived in this home until moving to an assisted living center in North Ogden.

William was lost to a tragic accident, September 15, 1966, leaving Shirley to raise three young children. After being a homemaker for the first 17 years of her marriage, she had the need to drive and had to acquire a license and a job to support her family. She retired from the Defense Depot of Ogden after 30 years of service.

Blaine loved her cooking, especially her cherry pie. He spent several days in the hospital with the flu and all he craved was his mother’s cherry pie. He remembers fondly the kiss he received from his mom on the day of his wedding.

Her daughter remembers on Friday paydays the trips to the Tiffin Room at the top of ZCMI with her mother for dinner. Afterwards they enjoyed the coconut macaroons and occasionally did some shopping but it was the time spent together that Trudy treasured most.

Shirley loved her cats and suffered a serious injury during the winter of 2007 , slipping on ice while feeding her feline friends. She was found unconscious two hours later by her sister Marguerite. She  required surgery to her eye and shoulder but never stopped worrying about her cats the entire time she was laid up.

She also loved gardening and was very proud of the roses she was able to grow.

Shirley loved and boasted about her grandchildren and great grandchildren as well. Whether it was scholastic achievements, piano or dance performances, or equestrian accomplishments; Shirley glowed about what her grandchildren were doing.

Irrigation day was always a lot of fun when Shirley would turn the water loose from the canal and the kids could swim and splash in the water nearly waist deep in some places. The kids also loved to go to the walkover with their grandma where they would signal to the semi-trucks passing below to blow their horns.

The grandkids loved visiting Grandma Shirley, with the great grandkids, at Quail Meadows; especially during Halloween and the annual Easter Egg Hunt. The smaller children loved feeding the ducks with Grandma.

She is survived by her three children; Blaine (Tamra) Richards, Steven Richards and Trudy (Craig) Saxton. She is also survived by her three sisters, five grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and many other aunts and uncles.

The family would like to thank the staff at Quail Meadows for their care and treatment of our mom. Thank you Shirley for being such a wonderful example of a daughter, sister, devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Enjoy your eternity with your wonderful husband William.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 26, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s North Ogden Mortuary, 2140 N. Washington Blvd.  Friends may visit with family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary.  Interment, Warren Cemetery.