Norman Travis Richey

Chico ~ Norman Travis Richey was born July 9, 1938, at Rogers Hospital in Decatur. He was the firstborn to Curt and Leota (Martin) Richey and was brought home to a farm north of Crafton, Texas. After a stint on the Husky place Crafton, the Richey’s bought a farm just northwest of Chico where Norman and his two brothers, Gary and Johnny were raised. He attended Chico schools and graduated with the class of 1956. After high school, Norman worked as a roughneck with the Arlon Morris crew. In 1958 began working at Gifford-Hill where he continued until his retirement in 2002. Norman was a farm boy at heart and farmed peanuts and ran cattle on the home place.

On August 14, 1958, he married his high school sweetheart, Marsha Kay Smith. They welcomed Kelly to the family in May 1960, Sandee in March 1962, and finally his son, Zane in August 1978. Norman was an avid fisherman and hunter in his younger day and loved to tell the stories of his fishing adventures. He was also a wealth of information relating to the history of All Things Chico and Crafton.

Norman’s true passion was his family, he loved to have his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in his company, and you couldn’t get away without him putting some spending money in your pocket. Norman and Kay raised their family on the farm where he was raised and it is where he passed away late New Years Eve 2018. He was surrounded by his family and slipped away peacefully, it was a good life.

Norman was preceded in death by his parents, Curt and Leota (Martin) Richey.

Those left to cherish his memories are his wife of over 60 years, Kay Richey of Chico; his daughters, Kelly Richey Steward and husband Bill of Henrietta, and Sandee Richey Cox and husband Johnny of Nashville, Tennessee; his son, Zane Richey and wife Jennifer of Chico; his 10 grandchildren; his 5 great-grandchildren; his brothers, Gary Richey of Bridgeport, and Johnny of Crafton; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Funeral service is 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel in Bridgeport with burial in Chico Cemetery. Family will receive friends 6-8 Friday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport.

Bill Steward will officiate. Pallbearers include his grandsons and grandsons-in-law, Brendan Cox, Ezra Cox, Avery Cox, Beck Cox, Raleigh Cox, Jason Wyatt, and Jordan Hines. Honorary pallbearers include Harvey Weatherly, Rick Richey, Marty Casillas, Bobby Brazier, and Joe Bob Symons.