Richard "Rich" Dewitt

Born in Zeeland, Michigan January 29, 1926. Preceded in death by, mother, Ella Van Ommen and father Benjamin DeWitt Sr.; two brothers, Robert DeWitt and Ben DeWitt. He is survived by his wife, Lucille (Lucy) LaPointe DeWitt, and five children, Richard Dewitt Jr. and wife Barbara from Nacogdoches, Texas, Debbie and husband Sam Parmelee from Evergreen, Colorado, Candy and husband, Marc Drucker from Los Alamitos, California, Cindy and husband Jimmy Myers from Nacogdoches, Texas, Jack DeWitt and wife, Sonja from Nacogdoches, Texas; three sisters, Elsa Dinger and husband, John from Holland, Michigan, Mary Mitsos from Valpariso, Indiana, and Linda Wesselenks and husband, David from Northbrook, Illinois; two uncles, Jack Dewitt and Dick Dewitt; twelve grandchildren, Nicki and husband, Larry Cahill from Mississippi, Jessica DeWitt from Atlanta, Georgia, Bud DeWitt, Neil Myers, Alex Myers, Lucy DeWitt, Jacob DeWitt and Austin DeWitt from Nacogdoches, Texas, Andrew Drucker and Danielle Drucker from Los Alamitos, California, Matt Parkins from Fort Collins Colorado, and Melissa Parkins from Breckenridge, Colorado; two great grandchildren, Mollie and Walker Cahill and the good friend and mother of Bud and Jessica DeWitt, Beverly Murphy from Nacogdoches, Texas. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. A special thanks to caregivers, Donnie Stone, Kathy Stone, Doretha Johnson, Laura Serrano and man's best friend "Harley." Rich will be remembered as great husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great grandfather, business leader, community leader, world traveler and philanthropist. Rich, with his wife Lucy, moved from Zeeland, Michigan to Waxahachie, Texas, in 1952 to start a turkey farm and hatchery, and later moved to Nacogdoches to help his brother Ben run DeWitt's hatchery. In 1964 Rich and Lucy bought KFC franchises in Lufkin and Nacogdoches and later expanded into sixty-eight locations throughout Texas, where he presided over the operation of his company, Tem-Kil Co. Inc., well past retirement age. One of Rich's favorite memories was when Colonel Sanders came to Nacogdoches, Texas to participate in Tem-Kil's company convention and said to him, "We need more people in the business like Richard Dewitt." He was a very giving and generous person. One of greatest pleasures in his business success was to be able to provide a good living for his many employees and their families. At one point, his was the third largest KFC franchisee in the country. Rich was an avid outdoorsman and sportsman, traveling the Western Hemisphere hunting and fishing. He was involved in the horse racing business, and at one time owned numerous thoroughbreds. He loved animals, especially horses, dogs and birds. Rich, also at one time, owned oil wells in Oklahoma. Rich passed away, Friday, December 15, 2006, at his residence. Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 19, at 2 p.m. in the Cason Monk-Metcalf Sunset Chapel, with the Reverend Steve Newton officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, Nacogdoches. Pallbearers include: Craig Stripling, Dr. Dennis Coffman, Mark Goldman, Dan Sitton, Carl Maynard, John Olivo, Donny Stone, Larry Skelley and Henry Butanda. Visitation will be Monday, December 18, at the funeral home from 5 to 8 p.m. Most of all his family and friends will remember him for his kindness, generosity, good humor and caring for others. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Richard and Lucille DeWtt SFA School of Nursing, P. O. Box 630608, Nacogdoches, Texas 75963-0608. Cason Monk Metcalf Funeral Directors.