Lurlene Richardson's Obituary
Lurlene Minter Richardson, age 94, of Longview, TX passed away peacefully on February 8, 2018. She was born the second of three daughters to John E. and Lela W. Minter on the snowy evening of March 16, 1923 in Rocket, TX. The family soon moved to Ennis, where Lurlene attended school and graduated from Ennis High School in 1940. In 1938, she began a courtship with James Matthew Richardson, also from Ennis, and the couple married on Christmas Day 1940.
As the faithful wife of a World War II Army Air Force pilot, Lurlene spent the early years of the war traveling across the US to accompany and support her husband throughout his pilot training. In 1944, Mr. Richardson returned from his deployment, and the couple spent several years in Waco, TX where their son Dr. James Matthew Richardson, Jr. was born. The family moved to Longview, TX in 1946 where Mr. Richardson began working for Sears and Roebuck, and Lurlene began her lifelong career as a devoted housewife and mother, which she considered her most important job. She also joined the Longview Missionary Baptist Church where she was a dedicated member for 71 years. Upon Mr. Richardson’s retirement from Sears and Roebuck in 1976, the couple moved to the north side of Lake Cherokee where they spent their retirement years entertaining friends and family, gardening, fishing, and traveling throughout North America with their local Good Sam RV Club and abroad in China. In 2002, the Richardson’s moved back to Longview where Lurlene continued to reside after her husband’s death in 2013.
Lurlene was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend who loved cooking for her family and pursuing her talents as an accomplished seamstress. She lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures such as chatting with friends and family, spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren – “her kids”, and cheering on her Texas Rangers.
Lurlene is preceded in death by her parents John Elmer and Lela Williams Minter of Ennis, TX, her two sisters Mollie Warren and Dorothy Ventrca, her husband of 72 years James Matthew Richardson, Sr. or “Shorty” as she lovingly called him, and her only son Dr. James Matthew Richardson. She is survived by her grandchildren Pamela Paul and husband Adam Paul of Frisco, TX, Paula Harp and husband Chris Harp of Longview, TX, Robert Richardson of Fort Worth, TX, and step grandson, Jordan Johnson and wife Emily Johnson of Pelahatchie, MS; her great-grandchildren Katelyn Paul, Abigail Paul, Collin Harp, Conner Harp, Evan Harp, Everett Harp, Brayden Richardson, and her nephews Jerry Warren, John Ventrca, Richard Ventrca, and Kem Ventrca and their families.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lurlene’s name to the Longview Missionary Baptist Church Mission Fund. The family would like to thank the staff of Arabella Assisted Living for the excellent care provided to Lurlene in her latter years. A family graveside service will be held at Myrtle Cemetery in Ennis, TX at a later date.
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