Richard Coburn Stafford

LEAGUE CITY – Richard Stafford, aged ninety-seven, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 13, 2025. He passed peacefully in his home surrounded by loved ones.
Richard was the best type of Christian: indiscriminately kind, open-minded, and genuine. He loved discounts, driving too fast, and asking the waitresses at Kelly's Country Cooking for armadillo meat with a straight face. Richard could talk the paint off a post and answer even the most obscure gardening question. He greeted everyone with outstretched arms and a bright smile. He was known to randomly burst into song when he was happy. His favorite hymn was Amazing Grace.
At age eleven, Richard dropped out of school to work. Not receiving a formal education was his greatest regret. Richard spent the rest of his life seeking knowledge. He studied to be a pilot, took painting classes, and finally, picked up the violin at age eighty-two.
Richard proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force for four years at the tail end of World War II, sneaking home a bayonet that he used to garden and open Amazon packages for the next seventy years. He worked at Houston Lighting and Power for thirty-five years as a foreman. His coworkers nicknamed him "Push Button".
Richard married the love of his life, Beverly Ann Cook, with whom he has one surviving son, Rickylee Stafford. Beverly and Richard lived a life full of love, travel, and devout Christian worship. They celebrated their anniversary every single month. Fifteen years after his wife's death, Richard still spoke of Beverly daily.
Richard possessed an intelligent mind and sharp wit throughout the entirety of his life. He kept a meticulous mental map of old League City. Richard never revealed the secret to living a long life, but one can only assume it was the entire carton of vanilla ice cream and dozen donuts he consumed weekly.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ross C. and Beulah (Anderson) Stafford; wife, Beverly Ann (Cook) Stafford; infant son, Larry Stafford; sisters, Helen Burks, Irene Clements, Frances French and Dorothy Ryan. He is survived by his son, Rickylee and his adopted family, the Beaudrys, whom he met through his violin lessons. He will be deeply missed, and his irrepressible light will never be forgotten.
Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. with funeral services beginning at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in the chapel of Hayes Funeral Home, 10412 Highway 6, Hitchcock, TX (409) 925-3501. Pastor Joshua McDonald will officiate. Interment will be held at Forest Park East Cemetery on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Richard Coburn Stafford, please visit our floral store.