J. Richard Sturgeon

J. Richard Sturgeon, 85, a long time resident of Caney, Kansas, most recently living in Lincoln, Arkansas, passed away December 8, 2013 at the Willard Walker Hospice in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was born August 25, 1928 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma the son of Richard Harold and Beulah Emmaline (Gibson) Sturgeon. He married Ella Mae Hinshaw and they later divorced. Then he married Gloria (Milner) Spaid.

J.R. graduated from Ames High School in Ames, Oklahoma. He was an avid horsemen and was a member of the Oil Capital and Turley Round-up Clubs near Tulsa, Oklahoma. He enjoyed training and showing horses. He worked as an off-set printer operator during his career and taught off-set printing at Tri-County Vo-Tech in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Indian Meridan Vo-Tech in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He earned a degree from Oklahoma State University later in his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Robert Gerald Sturgeon, and his wife, Gloria.

He is survived by three daughters, Cheryl Christian (Mike) of Manhattan, Kansas, Sandra Higgins (David) of Lincoln, Arkansas, and Jeanette McKinzie (Ed) of Conroe, Texas. Step-children, Bill Spaid (Luanna) of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Patty Young (David) of Caney, Kansas. Grandchildren: Sydney Cooper (Jesse) of Castro Valley, California, Wade Christian of Breckenridge, Colorado, Mandy Butler (Matt) of Harveyville, Kansas, J. D. Higgins (Jamie) of Stilwell, Oklahoma, Dustin Higgins (Carman) of Summers, Arkansas, Philip Petty (Sherry) of Gulfport, Mississippi, Pamela Jones (Max) of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Step-grandchildren, Charee McGovern, and Chandee Hawk (Allen) of Nowata, Oklahoma, Tracie Jabben (Jared), and Travis Young of Caney, Kansas, and eleven great-grand children. Two sisters, Judy Blair (G.) Of Carthage, Texas and Joyce Collins (Ken) of Abilene, Texas.

A memorial service is being planned for January, 2014 and will be announced at a later date.