Flavious Ned Richardson

Flavious Ned Richardson, the third son of Virgil and Leona Richardson, was born in Trousdale, Oklahoma, on January 13, 1933. He grew up in Meeker, Oklahoma, where he demonstrated a strong work ethic from an early age. Starting at age twelve, he traveled alone by bus to California to work with family members in the fruit orchards during the summers. He graduated from Meeker High School in 1951.

A lifelong learner and advocate for education, Flavious received an Associate in Arts Degree from College of the Sequoias in Visalia, CA, in June 1953. He continued his academic journey by earning a Bachelor's degree in Education from Central State College in Edmond, OK, in December 1959. In 1963, he further advanced his education with a Master's in Business Education from the University of Oklahoma.

Flavious entered the US Army on December 7, 1954, for basic training at Ft Sheridan, Illinois, and trained as a medical equipment repairman. He served overseas in Seoul, Korea, for 18 months in the 121st Evac Medical unit. As a bio-medical technician, Flavious was responsible for one of only two dialysis machines available in Seoul at the time. In 1957, he was honorably discharged from active duty with the Good Conduct Medal and continued to serve in the US Army Reserves until 1963.

Flavious met Lorene Miller at Forest Baptist Church in 1954, and the couple dated briefly. However, Flavious moved off to serve in the Army, and the distance left each to focus on their own for several years. After discharging from the Army, while in California, Flavious's mother, Leona, kept him informed about the young pianist, Lorene, at Forest Baptist Church back in Chandler, Oklahoma. Upon his return to Oklahoma in 1957, Flavious rekindled the flame, dating the pianist, Lorene Ann Miller, whom he soon married on February 14, 1958. Their marriage lasted 67 years - a love story of mutual respect, honor, and devotion.

They had one son, Jimmy Jon (JJ), in 1967. For Flavious, his son, JJ, was his greatest accomplishment as an educator and a father. Flavious's pride and joy came later in his life, in his grandsons, Logan and Garrett Richardson. Flavious loved his family; he had very special relationships with his siblings, nieces, and nephews, and looked forward to family events and reunions.

Flavious began his teaching career at Hobart High School in January of 1960, teaching Business and Advanced Mathematics. He loved to teach and was the ultimate professional, teaching with passion, confidence, and a true spirit of mentorship. Over 28 years, he taught hundreds of students, and he genuinely wanted each student to be successful. He made himself available before school daily for students needing extra tutoring in math or just in life. His teaching philosophy was that of building strong character and self-respect through discipline while at the same time showing unconditional love to his students. He commanded, not demanded, respect. In return, Mr. Richardson gave respect and taught more than just mathematics in that classroom. His lessons on self-respect, strong character, and accountability forever impacted his students' lives. He'd bet you a Golden Cadillac on it!

Beyond the classroom, Flavious served as the Director of Federal Programs for Hobart Public Schools from 1965 to 1987. As director, he received many honors for the school, including implementing the Migrant Program, which was recognized as one of the two outstanding programs in the nation. Flavious served on the Oklahoma State University curriculum committee to coordinate high school math with college math curricula. He started the Future Teachers of America club in Hobart Public Schools in 1963 and sponsored the club until his retirement. Many of his students held state offices and won the statewide yearly scrapbook competition for Oklahoma several times. Mr. Richardson was voted Kiowa County Teacher of the Year in 1967, and he proudly served as the Treasurer of the Hobart Public School District for seven years before retiring from education in 1987. Flavious was inducted as the first into the Teachers Hall of Fame of Hobart in 2011.

In 2017, the Flavious Richardson Scholarship Award was developed through the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Inspired by several of Mr. Richardson's former students, the scholarship was endowed within five months-a remarkable achievement in the world of foundations and endowments. Past students, who loved, respected, and were thankful for his guidance, were eager to bring this scholarship to life. Scholarship applicants from Hobart High School Seniors are reviewed each year by the scholarship committee to identify a deserving senior applicant who exhibits a passion for education through discipline, determination, and desire to achieve a college education.

After retiring from teaching, Flavious remained active in the Kiowa County Retired Educators, holding offices and serving on many committees. He served on the Great Plains Youth and Family Services board for 13 years and the Hobart Shortgrass Playhouse board, acting in many performances at the Shortgrass Theater. Flavious volunteered many hours for the Hobart Relay For Life initiative and at the Kiowa County Museum in Hobart, Oklahoma, setting up displays in the antique section. Beyond his retirement as an educator, when asked, Flavious volunteered to tutor high school and college students struggling with math.

As retired educators, Flavious and Lorene spent 40 years collecting and selling antiques. Their adventures as antique dealers included ventures with the original Red Apple Antiques, with multiple locations in antique malls throughout Oklahoma, and co-ownership of the grand Stanley Antique Mall, a two-story establishment in downtown Hobart, Oklahoma, which showcased their passion and expertise.

Flavious took up oil painting in the late 1990s and painted until 2021. His natural talent and mastery of painting have left his family with dozens of precious art pieces to treasure for generations to come. During his final years, it was his paintings that could bring him back momentarily from the lost state of dementia that was his fate in his final years. His blue eyes would sparkle as he explained the illustration, the unspoken meanings, and certain brush stroke methods of each piece, seen only through one's eyes.

Flavious was a long-standing member of the First Baptist Church in Hobart, OK. He served on many committees and held various positions over the years. Flavious served as the Superintendent of the Adult Sunday School department for over 20 years. Flavious had the ability to share short devotionals with a meaningful impact.

Flavious was a lover of soulful gospel music. His favorite artist was Mahalia Jackson. Often, while Lorene and JJ made shopping trips in the summer, Flavious enjoyed meticulously cleaning the house. He would crank up JJ's speakers and blare Mahalia Jackson while he cleaned the house. Perhaps, the cleansing was more for the soul as well. Several sets of speakers were blown over the years in the efforts to clean the house and the soul. In Flavious's last years, once again a trigger was found to bring Flavious back, if only for a short time, but this time an audible treasure of a gospel hymn from Mahalia could soothe the anxiety and angst afflicting Flavious related to his dementia. Tapping of his feet and a thump or hand movement signified a connection to his long, inspiring life, finding comfort in familiar hymns praising his God.

Preceded in Death: Father, Virgil Richardson; Mother, Leona Loy; Brothers, Fudge Richardson and Bobby Richardson; Sister, Imogene Moody

Survived by: Wife, Lorene Richardson of Oklahoma City Son, Dr. JJ Richardson, and wife Kim of Oklahoma City Grandsons, Logan Richardson and Garrett Richardson of Oklahoma City Step-Grandson, Tyler Brewer of Moore, OK, and Step-Granddaughter, Sydney Brewer of Oklahoma City Brothers, Roy (Sharon) Loy of Meeker, OK, and Joe (Charlene) Loy of Oklahoma City, OK Many special nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and hundreds of very distinct Hobart High School alums

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to thank those who choose to contribute to the continuous heritage of the Flavious Richardson Scholarship Fund through the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Flavious Richardson Scholarship Fund, 1000 N. Broadway Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102

Special thanks to the staff at Anthem Hospice and Sommerset Memory Care Center of Oklahoma City. Flavious was treated with kindness and dignity, and their continuous communication with the family made this very difficult experience bearable.

Celebration of Life: 2:00 PM Monday, October 13, 2025

Hobart First Baptist Church

Hobart, Oklahoma

Interment: Hobart Rose Cemetery

Hobart, Oklahoma

Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home, Hobart, OK