Mr. Johnny "Rick" Ricketts

Johnny Jackie Lee Ricketts, or "Rick" as his friends called him, was born September 20, 1952, in Muskogee, Oklahoma to Lorene and Johnie Ricketts and lived there until the age of 22. In 1973 at the age of 21 he met and married the love of his life Patricia Ankrom. The following year they decided to move to Texas where Johnny attended the Southwestern Adventist University, and it was there in the North Texas area that he and Patricia decided to start a family and have resided in Arlington for the past twenty-seven years. Johnny was a member of the Arlington Seventh Day Adventist Church. He enjoyed reading, writing, statistics, and sports. He was an avid Green Bay Packers and New York Yankees fan. One of his favorite pastimes was to just sit outside and write for hours with his clipboard and pen. His health started to fail him in 1990 after a back injury and since that time he has fought various illnesses, including diabetes. Where many people would have succumbed to these illnesses, Johnny had a strong faith that God would raise him up to fight another day. His faith in God, coupled with his unbelievable desire to protect his loved ones, is what kept him fighting. Johnny believed that one must strive to make a mark on this world, if not yourself, then through your children. Johnny sacrificed so that every member of his family had the opportunity to acquire advanced, university degrees. All four of his children, including his wife, achieved this goal. He believed that his legacy was his children and he was very proud of them. Johnny left this world on May 30, 2013, at 4:02 a.m. at the age of 60 giving back more than he was given and is awaiting the glorious second coming of Christ to take him home to heaven. Johnny has a large and loving family that survives him, including his wife Patty of 39 plus years, his daughter Dr. Ryschelle Bolton and her husband Eric, his son Jaron Ricketts and his wife Brooke and their daughter Leighton, and his sons Vincent and Marty Ricketts. Johnny also has two half-brothers Cleo and Emmett Stewart who also survive him. He was preceded in death by his parents. All family and friends are welcome to attend a memorial grave site service to celebrate the life of Johnny at Emerald Hills Funeral Home, 500 Kennedale Sublett Rd, Kennedale, TX 76060, on Thursday June 6th at 10:00 a.m. The night before the service, a wake will be held at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m., of which all family and friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to ask for donations to be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Kidney Foundation.