Ben Rickard

Ben Emerson Rickard, 76, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at her home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born April 30, 1935, in Cape Girardeau to Emory Mason and Clessen Bledsoe Emerson.

She and Marion Jack Rickard Sr. were married Nov. 28, 1953, at Scott City.

Mrs. Rickard was a 1952 graduate of St. Mary's High School in Cape Girardeau, now Notre Dame Regional High School. She was involved in the community throughout her life and was named the Cape Girardeau Jaycees Outstanding Young Woman in 1966-1967.

A member of St. Vincent's Catholic Church, Mrs. Rickard ran the Kiwanis Learn to Swim program at Cape Municipal Pool in the 1970s, was a stroke judge for the Cape Swim Team, was a Girl Scout leader, assisted in the major fundraising effort for the Otahki Girl Scout Council's Cherokee Ridge and was a member of the Four Seasons Garden Club.

Mrs. Rickard earned her associate degree in nursing in 1973 and her bachelor's degree in 1980, both from Southeast Missouri State University.

She was a nurse at both Saint Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital until 1988. She and her husband operated Jack Rickard Masonry Co. from 1967 until 1997. He preceded her in death in July 2005.

She is survived by three sons, Marion Jack Rickard Jr. (Jill) of Cape Girardeau, Thomas I. Rickard of Friendswood, Texas, and Andrew Emerson Rickard (Odella) of Midland, Texas; two daughters, Patricia Ben Burnett of St. Louis, and Carole Mason Rickard Hedden (Cole) of Alexandria, Va.; a brother, Joseph Emerson of Green Valley, Ariz.; 16 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today with parish prayers at 7 p.m. at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Chapel.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Old St. Vincent's Catholic Church in downtown Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Tom Kiefer officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Old St. Vincent's Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.