Richard Ray Meade, 65, was born June 29, 1956 at Akron, Colorado and passed away June 7, 2022 at Kirk, Colorado. He was the son of John Larry (Jack) and Marvel Green Meade. He and his younger brother, Rodney, grew up on dairy farms near Cope and Joes where they worked alongside their parents milking and feeding cows, cleaning barns and corrals, bottle feeding calves, and raising feed crops.
Richard started school at Arickaree and graduated from Liberty High School in 1974. He attended Aims Community College in Greeley for one year and then returned home to work at Kirk for the Liming Fertilizer Service. Over the years he has worked at many things including farming, ranching, custom farming, putting up hay with good friend, Daniel, for Ray Farms, and operating a well service for several years, working on wells and windmills for farmers and ranchers throughout Yuma and Washington Counties and beyond.
Richard was a busy man. You could find him handling the iron at brandings, working on sprinkler systems, fixing lawn mowers, and anything anybody needed help with. He was also on the board of the Plains Cooperative Telephone Services and the Grassroots Community Association (serving as President for several years). He also liked to collect and shoot guns.
Richard had many interests including fishing in Alaska, wild pig hunting in Texas, and playing guitar and singing country music with family and friends. He grew up in a musical family going back to when his dad and siblings had a band when they were very young. Marvel, Jack, Richard, and Rodney had a family band until his parents were killed in a car accident in 1982. We will forever miss his special country twang singing voice and his sense of humor. He was especially happy when picking-on somebody.
Survivors who will miss him so much are his loving companion, Carolyn McNevin; brother Rodney Meade (Bonnie); step-daughter Dawna Hastings (Zane); her children Lorna Lydick (Kenny) and Lee Hastings (Meghan); grandchildren Kaenan, Judson, Reagan, Daxton, Hadler, Layla; ex-wife Dorothy Meade; nephew Johnathon Meade (Krystal) and daughters; niece Emily (John) and son; Uncles Don Meade (Jan) and Dave Meade (Sue); Aunts Marie Gemaehlich (Gary) and Mary Corporan; and many, many devoted cousins and great friends.
Richard was proceeded in death by his parents; grandparents Marvin and Bernice Green and Mike and Alice Meade; Uncles Tom, Alan and Raymond; and Aunts Carol, Barbara, and Marcia.
Richard was laid to rest Friday, June 17 at 1:00 p.m. at the Yuma Cemetery. A Celebration of Life potluck reception was held at the Grassroots Community building at Joes, CO.
As most country music bands, and especially those connected with the Meade’s, sing at the end of the night,
Turn out the lights,
The party’s over.
They say that all
Good things must end.
What will never end is our love for Richard and those dear memories we hold close to our hearts.