Ellis Richardson

Ellis Ray Richardson of Overland Park, Kansas peacefully left his painful earthly body on June 18, 2021 after a ten month battle with metastatic Cancer.  Ellis went home to be with his heavenly Father and those that preceded him in death, where there is no more pain, tears, and death.

Ellis was born July 19, 1942 to Derward “Dub” and Ida (Stokes) Richardson of Kansas City, Kansas.  Ellis played football for Rosedale High School and graduated in 1960.  Following graduation, Ellis attended Pittsburg State University for one year where he majored in fraternity antics.  He got his act together when he enlisted in the 2nd Armor Division of the US Army at Fort Hood, Texas.  During that time, he met his first love Judith Gregory at a friend’s wedding and became married on April 11, 1964.

After being honorably discharged from the Army, Ellis moved to Mission, Kansas and worked for Marley Cooling Towers.  Ellis began work as a draftsman, dabbled and traveled in domestic sales, and finally became manager of the plastics plant in Olathe, Kansas.  Ellis eventually moved to his current home in Overland Park, Kansas.  After taking an early retirement from Marley, Ellis began working for Riverside Seat Company as a nightshift plant manager and provided seats for the GM Fairfax plant.

Ellis is preceded in death by his parents Derward “Dub” and Ida Richardson, his first love and wife Judith (Gregory) Richardson, who died at the young age of twenty eight, and his daughter Lorrie Ann Richardson.  Ellis is survived by his current wife, Linda (Rogers) Richardson; his sister, Cherry Thornton (Richardson); his children and their spouses, J. Scott Richardson, Dennis and Tysha (Potter) VanBeceleare, David and Ann (Huhman) Richardson, and Polly Potter (Cicero); and his six grandchildren, Jesse Niebaum, Samantha Cicero, Tye Cicero, Xander VanBeceleare, Reese Richardson, and Jonah Richardson.  Ellis was a pet lover of cats and dogs.  He was a parent and grandparent of many furry children and grandchildren, too many to list.

Ellis stated, “I lived a good life”.  Ellis was loved by members of his family, friends, and coworkers.  Ellis was an avid Kansas Jayhawks basketball and Chiefs fan.  Ellis enjoyed NASCAR, collected NASCAR memorabilia, and played fantasy NASCAR with his coworkers.  Ellis did not participate in any clubs, but had a great set of golf clubs and loved to hit the links.  Ellis also loved travelling with his wife Linda annually to Daytona, the southern US, and abroad to Europe.

Ellis was remembered as a humble, kindhearted, and generous soul.  He will be missed.

A private family graveside funeral service will occur on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, Kansas with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be in made in Ellis Richardson’s memory to Smile Train , ASPCA , and/or the American Cancer Society .