Neva L. Richard

Neva L. Richard, 103, of Erie, passed away at 4:05 a.m., Monday, February 9, 2026 at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul.

She was born on December 2, 1922 in Shaw, Kansas to William and Mary (LaRue) Gearhart. Neva attended Erie High School and graduated in 1940. After graduation she moved to South Bend, Indiana where she worked as a motor winder at Koontzwagner Electric.

She and Robert Hanks were married on February 12, 1955 in Indiana. He preceded her in death on December 29, 2000. She then married George I. Richard on September 9, 2002 in South Bend, Indiana and she moved to Erie following their marriage. He preceded her in death on July 2, 2023.

Neva was active in the Erie Red Hat Society, travelling, going on cruises and she and George enjoyed spending time at Grand Lake.

Survivors include her grandsons, Stephen Winder (Brenda) and Zachary Kyser both of Erie; great-grandchildren, Sloan Elliott (Craig), Parker Winder, Taylor Kyser and Jacob Kyser; great-great-grandson, Lawson Elliott; nieces and nephews, Linda Meeds (Steve), Lois Gladstone (Steven), Maryellen Flesher, Jim Gearhart (Joni) and Brenda Gearhart.

She was preceded in death by a step-daughter, Crissy Kyser, two brothers, Dewey Gearhart and his wife, Betty and Gerald Gearhart and his wife, Mildred; a sister, Doris Gearhart; and a nephew, Larry Gearhart.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Wednesday. Burial will follow in Shaw Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Erie Museum and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 182, Erie, KS 66733.