Aubrey Ellis Richardson

Aubrey Ellis Richardson passed away in his home on November 16, 2003. He was born in Kutch, CO, on November 29, 1919. He grew up in Parker, KS. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. On returning home, he settled in the Kansas City, MO, area and went to work for Procter & Gamble, where he worked for many years. He decided to go to college late in life. He began attending night school at Rockhurst College while still working at Procter & Gamble full time. He graduated with an accounting degree without ever graduating from high school. He was invited back to Rockhurst, where he taught tax accounting at night for 17 years. In those 17 years of teaching, he only missed three nights of class. His days were filled by practicing accounting seven days a week for his own accounting firm, which has only recently been acquired by one of his former students and a fellow teacher at Rockhurst, Stanley House of House, Park and Dobratz, Kansas City, MO. Aubrey bought and sold many businesses through the years in addition to practicing accounting. He also was an avid farmer, rancher, living many years in Trimble, MO. He loved to work but he was also very caring and generous. He always said his father taught him how to work, his mother taught him how to care, and Rockhurst taught him how to think. He had great love and empathy for all creatures great and small, especially dogs and cats. He and his wife, Carol, rescued many dogs from shelters and gave or found many strays a wonderful home. They even found a no-kill home for a herd of buffalo and some longhorn cattle. He will be missed by everyone whose life he touched, including his many friends, former students, and employees and former employees of M.J. Hardin Co., Scott Rice of Kansas City, Carter Farms Inc., Richardson Ranch Arena, Veticare of St. Charles, MO, Perry State Bank and K.C. Redy Mix, and especially his caregiver, Jean Kunkel, his caretaker, Alfredo Garcia, his assistant, Amanda Borunda, and his longtime employees, Sandi Smith and Ed Wills. He is survived in the home by his wife, Carol Richardson; his dear sister, Maxeine Holderman of Osawatomie, KS, and his brother, Eugene Richardson of Camden, AR. He has two stepchildren, Kim Hanson of Leawood, KS, and Mike Green of Rapid City, SD, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and his beloved pets. He was grateful to Dan Lange of Midwest Trust Company and Pete Smith and Ron Bronstein for helping him get his affairs in order through difficult times. He was also grateful to the many fine doctors and nurses who cared for him through the years, especially Dr. Jay Peterson and the nurses in the cath lab at St. Luke's Northland and Dr. Anthony Zink. We are eternally grateful to St. Luke's Hospice for their support in our time of need. Aubrey requested that donations be made to the Parkville Animal Shelter, which is a no-kill facility, or to St. Luke's Hospice in lieu of flowers. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Heritage Funeral Home, 401 Main St., Parkville, MO, where visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. (Arrangements: Heritage Funeral Home, Parkville, MO)