Kathleen Richards

Kathleen Helen Richards, 96, of Cheyenne, died November 24 at Davis Hospice Center. She was born October 30, 1916 in Yakima, Washington to John W. and Elizabeth (O'Grady) Quinlan. In 1932, her father moved the family from Washington to Denver, where Kathleen attended St. Joseph High School for a year. Looking for work, her father again moved the family, this time to Bairoil, Wyoming for a job with Sinclair Oil Co. They lived in a tar-paper company house, though Kathleen and her younger sister Dorothy boarded with relatives in Rawlins during the school year. Kathleen graduated from Rawlins High School and continued to live in Rawlins for several years, working for a local department store. On November 7, 1939, Kathleen married Gerald M. "Jerry" Richards in Casper. They resided in Rawlins until Jerry was drafted into the Army during WWII. Kathleen and young son John moved to Cheyenne to live with Jerry's parents while Jerry fulfilled his military commitment. Kathleen continued to reside in Cheyenne until her death. She worked at Kassis' Department Store for a time, but was a full-time mother and housewife from the mid-1940s on. She was a self-taught antiques expert and collector. As an active member of the St Mary's Cathedral Guild, she used that expertise to support St. Mary's Parish and St. Mary's School in fund raising efforts by conducting rummage and jewelry sales. She was actively involved with the St. Mary's Christmas sale until she was 93. For years, she appraised antiques and organized estate sales for the elderly in the Parish and would take no fee for doing so. Kathleen is survived by a son, Bill Richards (Kit) of Cheyenne; sisters Jeanne Bertholdi (Don) of Fairfield, CA and Betty Ouderkirk of Casper; brother Jerry Quinlan (Cheryl) of Casper; grandchildren Leah Richards of Bronx, NY, Justin Richards of Snowmass Village, CO, Geneva Richards Tarandek (Ed) of Burbank, CA, Erika Pepple (Steve) of Yucaipa, CA, Quinlan Richards (Kim) of Kirkland, WA, Katy Bryant (Todd) of Atlanta, GA and Beth Richards of Brooklyn, NY; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Jerry, and by sons John Richards and Mark Richards; brother Bill Quinlan; sisters Dorothy Allison and Della Watson and a brother and sister who died in infancy. Visitation will be held from Friday noon to 5:00 p.m. with a Vigil for the Deceased on Friday at 7:00 p.m. in the Schrader Chapel. Funeral Liturgy will be Saturday at St. Mary's Cathedral at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be in Olivet Cemetery. Donations may be made in Kathleen Richards' name to Davis Hospice Center or St. Mary's Cathedral Guild.

Service

Saturday, December 1, 2012 10:00am

St. Mary's Cathedral

2101 Central Ave.

CHEYENNE, WY

Vigil for the Deceased Friday, November 30, 2012 Schrader Chapel 7:00 p.m.

Visitation

Friday, November 30, 2012 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Schrader Funeral Home

2323 Carey Avenue

CHEYENNE, WY 82001

Interment

Olivet Cemetery

Pershing Blvd.

CHEYENNE, WY 82001