Richard Ross Calhoon

Richard Ross Calhoon, age 77, passed away peacefully in the early morning of May 8, 2010, after a brief battle with brain cancer--55 years to the day after meeting his wife, Marylou.
Richard was born to Ceril and Margaret Calhoon on December 4, 1932 in Webber, Kansas, delivered by his grandfather, Dr. Frederick Maxey. He graduated from Jerome (ID) High School in 1950, joining the National Guard the summer before his senior year of high school. Upon completing high school, Richard enlisted in the Navy and served in the Korean War as a Yeoman 2nd Class aboard DD-725, the destroyer USS O'Brien.
Richard had two careers; his first, beginning in 1960, was as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent in Temecula, CA, a career cut short by a serious automobile accident, but a career in which Richard took great pride and which produced lifelong friendships. His second career, which spanned 30+ years, was as an educator, where he touched thousands of lives in the valley. After graduating from Central Washington University in 1968, Richard began teaching at St. Joseph's School. He also taught 25 years in the Highland School District, beginning at Marcus Whitman Elementary and ending at Tieton Middle School. After retiring, Richard continued to occasionally substitute teach for St. Joseph's and began teaching Spanish there part-time this past fall. Teaching brought him great joy!
Athletics were always an important part of Richard's life; he was a standout high school athlete and tried out to play professional baseball at a Detroit Tigers training camp in Florida after his honorable discharge from the Navy. Richard later coached a variety of girls' and boys' school sports, ranging from AAU girls basketball to middle school volleyball, basketball, and track to high school baseball. He also loved watching sporting events of all types, particularly the Mariners, and he took pride in his children's athletic accomplishments, most recently granddaughter Alyssa's state wrestling championship.
Richard married Marylou (Hudson) on June 17, 1955, and together they raised three children: Jeffrey (Bonnie) of Yuma, AZ; Robert (Meg) of Yakima, W A; and Carolyn (Brett) of Zillah, WA. Richard was actively involved in the lives of his children and, later, his grandchildren, Aimee (Brian), Ryan, Alyssa, and Emily, and he was a proud great "papa" to three lovely great granddaughters (Aimee). His wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who survive him will all remember "papa" for his strong work ethic, his sense of fun and humor, and his kind and loving ways. He always supported his children and later his grandchildren by attending important events and taking an interest in their lives; we'll remember countless pinochle games, riding horses, family trips, many meals together (and papa's love of "grazing" between meals), and lots of laughter and fun. He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed!
Richard is preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, Randall.
Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 13, 2010 at Keith & Keith Terrace Heights Chapel. Graveside Inurnment will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 14 at Tahoma Cemetery. To share a memory, visit www.keithandkeith.com.
The family requests donations in lieu of flowers be made to either: St. Joseph-Marquette Catholic School or The Border Patrol Museum c/o Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W Yakima Ave, Yakima, WA 98902.
The family would like to thank Richard's 2nd Floor "Earth Angels" at Memorial Hospital, too many to name individually here, but all of whom provided compassionate care to Richard and his family.