Richard Leroy Coffelt, was born Jan. 15, 1944, in the family home to Mabel Marie Holloman Coffelt and Elvin Elwood Coffelt. He joined his Heavenly Father on Feb. 9, 2016, with family surrounding him and singing him home in the Hospice House of Olathe.

He was the youngest of three sons. His brothers were 6 and 8 years older than he. When Richard was 23 months old, his father died of a brain tumor leaving his mother with a small railroad pension to support her sons.

She went to beauty school in order to learn a trade and opened a shop in her home. Richard was a mischievous child and would often disappear. He once sneaked into the local theater to watch a movie and left his mother worried sick as she had everyone out looking for him. She often tied him to the clothes line to keep him within her eyesight while working.

Richard was a 1962 graduate of Osawatomie High school. He attended Pittsburg College from 1962 to 1965. He served in the Army Reserves.

In September of 1966 he married Janette Filby Coffelt, and to this union two daughters were born, Jenice Ann McCoy and Justine Marie Staten .

Richard worked for Taylor Forge in Paola; Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in Desoto; Kansas City Power and Light Company, Kansas City; Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and toward the end of his life worked for the City of Overland Park in their maintenance department.

He was a man of many talents. He learned early in life many construction skills, as he helped his mother with remodeling and work on her home (the home he was born in and grew up in) and built the house in which he, his wife and children lived. He was always willing to help a relative, friend or neighbor.

He loved a good joke and would sometimes laugh until tears ran down his face. He loved a good practical joke and a good argument and often instigated them just to get a rise out of the other party.

He was preceded in death by his mother Mabel, his brother, Jerry, and his sister-in-law Joann.

He is survived by his wife, Janette of the home; his daughter Jenice McCoy (Patrick) of Manhattan, Kan.; daughter Justine Staten (Tony) of Olsburg, Kan.; three grandchildren: Garrett, Brook and Bridget, who were the light of his life; his brother, William Coffelt of Osawatomie; sister-in-law Donna Coffelt of Overland Park; many nieces and nephews; and many, many friends.

In honor of his wishes, he was cremated.

A Celebration of His Life will be held at Memorial Hall, John Brown Park, Osawatomie, at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, with a fellowship/visitation time immediately following.

Arrangements are by Cremation Center of Kansas City; 913-384-5566. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.CremationCenterKC.com.

Memorials may be made to the Hospice House Olathe, 20920 West 151st, Suite 204, Olathe, KS 66061.