Obituary for Joel D. 'Jody' Richardson
Joel D. ‘Jody’ Richardson, 74, of Canyon, passed away on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Services will be at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, June 25, 2021 at the First Baptist Church in Canyon with Dr. David Lowrie, pastor of First Baptist Church of Decatur and Rev. Gene Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Dreamland Cemetery.
Jody was born on June 27, 1946 in Amarillo to Roscoe B. and Lee Richardson. He lived in Canyon and Umbarger and graduated from Canyon High School in 1964. He then played basketball at West Texas State University and graduated with a Master of Education. Jody married the love of his life, Susan Hotchkiss, on August 15, 1970 in Floydada. They moved to Stratford where he was a teacher and coach for Stratford ISD for 8 years. In 1979, they moved to Canyon where he taught and coached at Canyon High School and Canyon Junior High until his retirement in 2011. Jody continued his involvement in Canyon athletics in various ways for several more years.
After retirement, Jody delighted in chasing his grandkids from state line to state line. He also enjoyed golf and basketball, and always willingly doing whatever Susan asked him to do. He was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church, Education Credit Union board member, a member of the T-Club at West Texas State University for men’s basketball, and a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Jody was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife of almost 51 years, Susan Richardson of Canyon; three sons, Kevin Richardson and wife, Darcie of San Angelo, Kurt Richardson and wife, Jennifer of Spearman, and Kris Richardson and wife, Brooke of Canadian; nine grandchildren, Tyler, Jacob, Cooper, Kinleigh, Bryson, Braxton, Kaylee Rhea, Kason, and Kambree; and two brothers, Jerry Richardson and wife, Gena of Canyon and Rick Richardson of Canyon.
Education and his grandkids were very important to Jody. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to the Opportunity Plan, Inc., PO Box 1035, Canyon, TX 79015 to the Jody Richardson Scholarship Fund, for furthering the education of his grandkids.
Jody was born on June 27, 1946 in Amarillo to Roscoe B. and Lee Richardson. He lived in Canyon and Umbarger and graduated from Canyon High School in 1964. He then played basketball at West Texas State University and graduated with a Master of Education. Jody married the love of his life, Susan Hotchkiss, on August 15, 1970 in Floydada. They moved to Stratford where he was a teacher and coach for Stratford ISD for 8 years. In 1979, they moved to Canyon where he taught and coached at Canyon High School and Canyon Junior High until his retirement in 2011. Jody continued his involvement in Canyon athletics in various ways for several more years.
After retirement, Jody delighted in chasing his grandkids from state line to state line. He also enjoyed golf and basketball, and always willingly doing whatever Susan asked him to do. He was a member and deacon of First Baptist Church, Education Credit Union board member, a member of the T-Club at West Texas State University for men’s basketball, and a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Jody was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife of almost 51 years, Susan Richardson of Canyon; three sons, Kevin Richardson and wife, Darcie of San Angelo, Kurt Richardson and wife, Jennifer of Spearman, and Kris Richardson and wife, Brooke of Canadian; nine grandchildren, Tyler, Jacob, Cooper, Kinleigh, Bryson, Braxton, Kaylee Rhea, Kason, and Kambree; and two brothers, Jerry Richardson and wife, Gena of Canyon and Rick Richardson of Canyon.
Education and his grandkids were very important to Jody. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to the Opportunity Plan, Inc., PO Box 1035, Canyon, TX 79015 to the Jody Richardson Scholarship Fund, for furthering the education of his grandkids.