Richard Alan Squier

KILGORE - Richard Alan Squier, 52, of Texas City, the light of so many lives, was overwhelmed by cancer and lost his fight on Friday, April 30, 2010 at his residence.

Funeral services will be 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at Rader Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dudley Plaisance officiating. Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. Tuesday, at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Danville Cemetery in Kilgore, Texas.

Richard was born February 24, 1958, in Kilgore, to the great delight of his parents, Margaret and Billy Edd Squier and his older sisters, Cheryl, Luanne and Peggy. After years of being the baby brother, Richard became a big brother to Laura.

Richard attended elementary and junior high school in Kilgore and graduated from Kilgore High School in 1975. He attended Kilgore College and graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a B.B.A. in 1979. He became the proud and happy father of Nicholas Alan, Andrew Chase and Natalie Marie Squier, and loved being "Pops" to Jordan Anthony Cortez-Squier.

After many years as a single dad raising three extraordinary kids, Richard found great happiness with his adored Michele-becoming her beloved husband and stepfather to her three children, Audrey Kelly, Amber and Richard Fuentes III.

Richard spent nearly 16 years as a valued employee of the Texas First Bank system and an active member of the local community. To honor his 50th birthday, February 25, 2008, was "Richard Squier Day" in Hitchcock, and the mayor signed a proclamation to that effect. He was branch manager of the Hitchcock branch. Richard was president of the Hitchcock Chamber of Commerce 2009-10 and honored in February 2010 by the Hitchcock Chamber of Commerce as "Man of the Year."

He loved and attended many Texas City High School athletic events and enjoyed college and professional sports as well. He was a 23-year member of the Elks Lodge, as well as being a member of the Galveston Rotary Club for seven years.

To know him was to love him, and Richard brought joy and laughter to many lives, including those of his grandson, nieces, nephews, cousins, and innumerable friends.

Richard is survived by his beloved wife, Michele; children Nicholas, Andrew and Natalie Squier, grandson, Jordan; stepchildren, Audrey, Amber and Trey; sisters, Cheryl Rosson of Horseshoe Bay, Luanne (and Jean-Paul) Samuel of Allen, Peggy Hembree of Tyler and Laura (and Philip) Hudman; stepbrother, Lee Walkup; sisters-in-law, Terry and Danny Zaro and Billy and Todd Mackey; nieces and nephews, Stacey Cashen Mitchel and Roy Mitchel, Marla Camp Hendon and Blake Hendon, Jeffrey Samuel, Christopher Samuel and Annabel Samuel, Kristi Matthews Martin and Billy Martin, John Rhodes, Jennifer Samuel Sohonie and Siddharth Sohonie, Zach and Mary Mays, Daniel J, Danny J and Dana Jan Zaro and Johnathan Jimenez; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Meghan Parker, Gracelyn Camp, Kaylee Martin, Lucas Samuel and Joshua Samuel.

Richard enjoyed many incredibly special friends and extended family members as well, all of whom will miss his laughter, his warm and loving nature, his strength, hugs and friendship.

Richard Alan was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret Squier Walkup and Bill Squier; stepfather, Dayton Walkup; brother-in-law, Roy G. Rosson; and great-nephew, Jonathan Laird Parker.

Many thanks to his doctors and staff at MD Anderson, especially Dr. Craig Kovitz as well as A-Med Hospice of TC and his nurse Stacey Villarreal.

Please leave condolences at www.raderfuneralhome.com