Richard "Rickey" Yow

Cheraw, SC - Mr. Richard "Rickey" Yow, age 74, passed away peacefully on the evening of July 14, 2025, at McLeod Regional Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Hopewell Baptist Church, with Pastor Mark Phillips, the Honorable Rep. Richie Yow, and Brent Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at Lower Macedonia Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home, and at other times at the Yow residence.

Rickey was born on December 18, 1950, in the Mont Clare community of Darlington County, the son of the late Ernest Elvin Yow and Rosa Rhetta Gandy Yow. He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his brothers, Bennie, Ernest, and Larry Yow; sister Annie Ruth Yow; and his beloved son, Ashley Channing Yow.

Rickey is survived by his devoted wife, Judy Jones Yow, with whom he shared nearly 52 years of marriage. He is also survived by his beloved mother-in-law, Louise Jones, whom he regarded as a second mother.

In addition to his wife and mother-in-law, Rickey is survived by his son, SC Representative Richard Lloyd Yow Sr. (Crystal) of Chesterfield County, and his beloved grandson, RJ Yow, who brought him immense joy. He is also survived by his brother Randy (Amy) Yow, several cousins he considered as siblings, numerous nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and great-nephews, all of whom he held dear. Furthermore, special children Molly and Logan Chapman, Drew, Jac, Phoebe, and Liza Cockrell were very important to him.

Rickey grew up on the dirt roads of Darlington County, where he learned the value of hard work and that a man's word was his bond while his family was his blood. The dirt roads and woods were home to all of "the Yow boys," as the brothers and cousins would meet up and ramble at Skufful Farm after all the chores of chopping wood and feeding animals were taken care of. He held numerous jobs throughout his life, including a brief service in the U.S. Marine Corps, work at Klopman Mill in Society Hill where he met his wife Judy, and working on cars for his father-in-law, Loyd Jones. However, his most fulfilling work was as a multi-generational logger, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, and providing lumber to Coxe Lumber and Sonoco Products, most notable with Luke Lee and Ronnie Byrd as they chartered the term, "Swamp Loggers."

An avid outdoorsman, Rickey had a love for horses and hounds, often speaking fondly of his best coon hounds. He would say "ain't nothing better than a good hound speaking to you in the stillness of the night!" He was dedicated to preserving nature and imparted these values to his sons and grandson. He would tell his sons for every tree you cut plant 3, for every animal you hunt, take only what you will eat and leave the others for another chase.

Rickey enjoyed family beach trips to Lakewood Campground where he and RJ would bond over wrestling events and their favorite restaurants. His pride in RJ was evident, particularly when his grandson surpassed him in a coon hunt or showcased his talents at a horse show at the Knox Moore arena. Rickey enjoyed watching Gunsmoke and would tell the stories how he saw James Arnez in the Darlington Parade. He loved sitting on his porch with his golden retriever Rose as he drank coffee.

Rickey attended Hopewell Baptist Church of Chesterfield, where he enjoyed going on mission trips with the youth and enjoyed worshipping with the praise team. He would show up early on Wednesday nights just to listen to them practice. His mission trip to Guatemala with Suffer The Children forever changed his life and even during his sickness he supported missions such as Joy Ranch of Virginia, STC of Guatemala, and his beloved Hopewell youth program. Over the years Rickey went on many rafting trips, camping trips, RA camps, hayrides etc. with the RAs and youth of Lower Macedonia Baptist Church. As with his sons in their younger years he taught them and many others to cinch it down tight, and if you fall off get back up and go. He would often sit back and grin at the youth of the Dixie Saddle Club as they would try and show off on the many saddle club rides.

Rickey was a simple man who loved God, his family, and connecting with others. His commitment to family and his role as a mentor to many young men in the area exemplified his caring nature.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Smith and his staff for their years of support and care, as well as the nursing staff on the 7th floor at McLeod Regional Medical Center for their compassion over the past few months.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hopewell Baptist Church, Youth Fund or Missions Account, P.O. Box 66, Chesterfield, SC 29709.

Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the Yow family.