Richard J. Viles

Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 8:55 AM

By Holly Stover

Richard J. Viles, age 76, Springfield, Missouri

Richard J. Viles, of Springfield, MO, went home to be with his Lord, on Tuesday

October 31, 2023. Richard was 76 years old. He was born on December 27, 1946,

in Springfield, MO, to Oren and Joan (Rogers) Viles.

Richard graduated from Republic High School and on September 23, 1967, he

married the love of his life, Susan Kay Crawford. This union was blessed with

three daughters, Tina, Kim, and Rebecca. Richard served as a reserve Greene

County Sherriff Deputy and then as a Colonel and Chief of Reserves with the

Republic Police Department. Richard enjoyed hunting and fishing, watching

NASCAR, but above all he enjoyed the time he was able to spend with his family,

especially his grandchildren. He enjoyed coaching his daughters softball,

basketball, and baseball games. He never missed a practice or a game. He was a

longtime member of Bethany Christian Church and he also spent many years as

the caretaker for Brookline Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest next to his

wife.

He is preceded in death by his wife Susan, his parents, brother Danny, sister-in-

law Patricia Crawford, and both his mother and father-in-law Chester and Dorothy

Crawford.

Richard is survived by his, daughters Tina Viles and husband Tommy Ulmer, Kim

Shelton and husband Dale, Rebecca Edmonds and husband Kevin, sister Orilla

Mae Keys and husband Larry and sister-in-law Linda Viles, brother-in-law Mike

Crawford, grandchildren; Shawn & Kelsey Viles, Kala Edmonds, Paxton & Amber

Edmonds, Levi & Kaylea Shelton, Loryn & Steven Appleton, Abbie & Josh Melton,

Shania & Darin Arthur. great grandchildren; Ryder, Lane, Kennedie, Wesley,

Sophia, Leo, Aubrie, Walker, Hayden, Colby, James, Rory, Parker and Trenton as

well as nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family and countless friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The American Heart Assoc,

The American Diabetes Assoc or to Brookline Cemetery.

A Visitation is scheduled for Friday, November 3rd from 6 – 8 p.m. at Meadors

Funeral Home in Republic. Funeral services will be held on Saturday November 4th

at 2pm with burial to follow at Brookline Cemetery.