Obituary of William Lee Richey

William Lee Richey – Bill – died peacefully May 26, 2021, in Portland, just eight days before his 93rd birthday.Bill was a tall man who lived a long life. He had a deep love for the many generations of his extended family, and a life-long love of friends and neighbors, oysters, golf, Canadian whiskey, telling stories and arguing politics. He was well known for remembering people and their stories, and for giving the best driving directions. Bill was born June 4, 1928, in Portland, to William Lee (Lee) Richey and Elizabeth (Judy) Bickley Richey. The family moved to small towns where Lee managed grocery stores – Port Townsend, Hoquiam, Centralia. They lived in Tacoma when Bill’s sister, Sue, was born in 1936. The family then moved to Lakewood, where Lee worked in real estate. The summer of 1945, Bill worked on the Blister Rust Crew in the Mount Rainier National Park where he was proud to shake the hand of President Truman. Bill graduated from Clover Park High School in 1946 and the College of Puget Sound in 1951. In 1949, Bill was part of the CPS basketball team that traveled by train to Kansas to play in a national tournament. He stayed close with his teammates with frequent reunions for nearly seven decades. Bill met Grace Fullager at a fraternity dance at the College of Puget Sound. They married in 1952 and started their family in Tacoma. By 1960, they had five children and were living in the Portland area, where Bill had begun a long career in the floor covering industry. Over the years, he worked for Murray B. Marsh, Ruberoid, GAF, Tarkett, and Cronin. At one point he owned a store in downtown Portland called The Magic Carpet. The Richey family moved to Tigard in 1961, and Bill and Grace moved to Summerfield in 2003. They were members of the 350 Dance Club, and loved spending time with their many friends. They hosted countless reunions, holiday parties, picnics and barbecues at their home on Chamberlin’s Lake, and enjoyed years of family outings at Hood Canal, Camano Island, Cannon Beach, Road’s End, and Black Butte Ranch. Grace and Bill were married for more than 60 years, until Grace’s death in 2012. Bill is survived by his five children: Dana Herms (Tim), Kristin Tucker (Rick Greenfield), Jodi Duty (Mark), Erin Buell, and John Richey (Beth); eleven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his dear friend Jo Dacklin, and an extended family. Thanks to the wonderfully caring people at Pacific Gardens, Cascade Terrace, Brookdale River Valley, and Bristol Hospice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory at autumn-funerals-cremation.com/obituaries. A celebration of Bill’s life will take place in the future. Until then, please get together with other friends to have a toast and share some stories.