Richard Follett

Richard Lee Follett was born September 20, 1938 in Kansas City, Missouri to Norman J. Follett and Val Jean Stubbs Follett.  He graduated from Southeast High School in 1956 and then served in the Air Force for six years.  He and Bobbie Kilgore were married on September 12, 1964 and they remained married for 56 years before he joined his Heavenly Father on November 7, 2020.  Surviving him are his wife, Bobbie; daughters: Tracy Follett, Kelly Gardner and Julie Stillings; granddaughters, Rileigh Jensen (Casey), Taylor Gardner, and Peighton Stillings, and grandson Lucas Stillings.  He is also survived by his sister, Norma Jean Dwyer, brother, Michael Follett (Katye), and sister, Sharon Johnston (Mike).  Richard joins in Heaven his parents, Norman and Val Jean, step-mother Thelma Follett, brother Allan Follett and sister Patricia Follett.  Richard worked for Missouri Gas Energy for 37 years before retiring in 2001.  He was a member of Fellowship Church in Raymore, MO.

The following was written by our daughter, Kelly, which summarizes the feelings of his family who loved him very much:

How can you summarize the greatest guy that you know in a paragraph?  Richard Lee Follett was a lot of things:  son, brother, friend, husband, father, grandfather, dedicated Missouri Gas Energy employee, and avid race car fan.  In all my years, I have never doubted his love for me, my girls, my sisters, Julie’s kids, or his love and devotion to my mom for 56 years.  He woke up early every day and even most Saturdays when we were growing up to be the best provider that he could be, took overtime callouts, and never missed a sporting event, band concert, choir concert, or reading of “The Night Before Christmas” to us every Christmas Eve after church.  He also continued that tradition with his grandkids.  He helped catch lightning bugs in the summertime, logged hours and hours watching cars pass on the porch with the grandkids, bought snow cones at the county fair, played catch, provided endless popsicles, hugs, kisses and waves from the driveway.  The amount of time he put in driving around letting us and our kids look at Christmas lights would make most men shudder.  Always strong, never the silent type that made you work for his affection, he gave his freely, and showed us how loved we were every day.  There isn’t enough time or words to remember all the good things about him, but I can tell you that we loved him dearly, he loved us, and that he will be missed by all who knew him.  Until we meet again, Dad, I am sure you will be watching over us, protecting us, cheering us on, and waving at us from up there on the porch.

Services will be held at 1 pm on Sunday, November 15,

at Longview Funeral Home.  Due to pandemic-restricted seating capacity, the family encourages friends to join them for the graveside service with full military honors, which will take place at Longview Cemetery immediately following the chapel service.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Croix Hospice or purchasing a tree to be planted in a national forest in Richard’s honor.