Dolores Richards

Dolores Mae “Dee” Richards, 71, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau following a five-week battle to recovery from a major illness.

She was born May 25, 1944, in St. Louis to Thomas Bertwell Hill and Sara Elma Brown Hill. She and Gerald E. Richards were married Feb. 12, 1966, at Bayless Baptist Church in St. Louis. Her passing occurred one day before what would have been their 50th wedding anniversary.

Dee was a member of Lynwood Baptist Church, where she had faithfully taught 3-year-old children for 36 years. She also taught first-grade children at Scott City Elementary for 33 years before retiring in 2003. During those years, she actively served the teaching profession for many years as president of the Community Teachers Association and annual delegate to the regional and state teachers conventions.

Dee loved children and loved teaching them. Most of all, though, she loved her Lord, her church and her family. She especially loved the family trips with her son and his family to Disney World. Although she didn’t like flying, she endured a number of flights to experience the joy and delight her grandchildren experienced with each trip.

Survivors include her husband, Gerald Richards; a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas “Tom” and Melissa Richards; two precious grandchildren, Abigail “Abby” and William “Will” Richards of O’Fallon, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Penny (Curtis) DeClue of Potosi, Missouri; two nieces, Paulette (Brian Bilderback) DeClue of Sullivan, Missouri, and Nanette DeClue of Potosi; and two especially close friends, Loretta Land and Marilyn (Larry) Kingree, all of Cape Girardeau. In addition, she leaves many other relatives and close friends through her church, her Bible-study group and her many years of teaching.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Neva Hill, of over 40 years; and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. until time of service today at Lynwood Baptist Church.

The funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. today at the church. Entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Lynwood Baptist Church Preschool Ministry.

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

Ford and Sons Funeral Home provided the arrangements.