Terry Richards DVM

Dr. Terry Richards, age 79, a longtime resident of Colville, WA passed away on Sept. 15, 2024, in Spokane, WA. Terry was born on November 19, 1944, in Seattle, WA, the son of Orville and Mary Catherine (Hyde) Richards.
Terry moved to Winton, WA just east of Stevens pass when he was four. Their home was a powerless remodeled gas station near the railroad tracks and their barn was the old train station. He and his sister Linda filled their days with horseplay, reading and listening to the radio. They attended a one room school a mile down the road. He grew up involved in cub scouts, boy scouts and 4-H. They rode horses up the mountains and made their own trails. He attended high school in Leavenworth, where he graduated in 1962, as a four-year honor student. During High School he served as the Student Body Vice-President, and his peers voted him most likely to succeed.
Terry started college at the University of Washington pursuing Forestry Engineering. He took a summer job with the Department of Fish and Wildlife counting fish from a canoe. His love of the outdoors was solidified with this experience. Over that first year he considered veterinary science and after being accepted to the veterinary program, he transferred to Washington State University where he completed his undergraduate degree and continued for a doctorate in veterinarian medicine. Terry was very close with his classmates both in high school and College. He was a "Coug" through and through.
His first work as a veterinarian was at a clinic in Gresham, OR. Next came the opportunity to work with an equine specialist in Goldendale, WA where he met Diane Ramage while working on a local farm. The two married after a short courtship and moved to Colville where Terry had accepted the opportunity to further his career in animal medicine.
Amy was born soon after in 1971 followed by Paul in 1974. Terry was a doting father; his small children would wait excitedly each morning to walk to the end of the driveway with their dad to fetch the newspaper. As they got older, he would take them along on vet calls letting them drive on his lap to the end of the driveway. His kids lovingly remember all the treats he would sneak them even after their teeth were brushed and how he would let them sip the bubbles off the top of his beer. His love and gentleness with his family are a big part of his amazing legacy.
In 1988 Terry went into partnership with Dr. Ed. Kowitz and Dr. Steve Clark. Together they created the successful Colville Animal Hospital where Terry's role in the community became increasingly engrained as the trusted Doctor of Animals large and small, but mostly large. Throughout these years Terry's passion shone brightly through his eyes and his work, inspiring many of those around him to become veterinarians themselves. He would have likely worked forever if it weren't for a workplace accident that broke his "good thumb", having lost half his other to a rearing horse as a teen; thus, taking away his ability to grip in his good hand.
To the ones that knew him best there was the ever-present goofy side; he was hilariously clumsy and would twist ankles and fall to the ground on a regular basis. He once broke both arms in a bike accident, broke ribs on several occasions while spending time in cattle chutes and lost countless fingernails while floating horse's teeth; however, in his stubbornness, he only allowed himself one day off for the lot. Bruised and bleeding he was always back on his feet with a big smile ready for the next adventure.
He had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed teasing those he loved. Terry had a very quick wit and created levity to life with his, often silly, antics. Thursday morning coffee time with his dear friends will never be the same. Above all, Terry was an amazing family man and enjoyed every moment spent with his children and grandchildren. He rarely missed sporting events in which many of them competed.
On Feb. 29, 1992, Terry married Donna (Clark) Hall in Colville, WA. They had a passion for traveling and took every opportunity to visit communities and cultures near and far. Their travels included the Western United States, with a close group of friends who RV'd together. They traveled many times to Florida, Costa Rica, and Hawaii as well as Barbados, Jamaica, Aruba and many European destinations including Scotland, London, Greece, Venice, and Paris.
Terry had a passion for sports but especially horse racing. Early on, he raced quarter horses throughout Washington and BC with his one-eared horse named Flower, presumably named after the skunk in Bambi. He then graduated to the longer distances of thoroughbred racing, with his favorite horse, Hunter's Soup, or "George", claiming a North American record at the exceptionally long 3-mile race on Terry's 45th birthday. He would love watching horse racing right until the end of his days.
Terry stayed active throughout his life through playing intermural handball in college, city league basketball, recreational softball, skiing, biking, and walking. He enjoyed skiing at 49 Degrees North with his friends and as his granddaughters got older would meet them at Stevens pass where he first learned to ski. He often recalled how the Stevens Pass rope tow would move so fast that it would make his gloves smoke. As he grew older, Terry spent his active time with his pets, whether it was cats, horses, or his trusted dog. After retirement he would keep busy walking countless miles with his labradoodles, Saddie and Sophie.
His final years were spent in a memory care center in Spokane, WA. He was a favorite of the caretakers there and even in his final days showed gentleness thanking everyone who would visit or call. The caretakers would make a special effort to see Terry at the end of their shifts to say goodbye. Such a gift he had for inclusion throughout his life which did not dim even at the end. He made the staff feel like family too. His family would like to thank the staff of Cornerstone Court for their care over the past year and a half.
Terry valued his organizations and volunteering. Terry was a charter member of the Colville Rotary Club, American Association of Equine Practitioners, WSVAMA, and WSU college of VetMed he also volunteered as the NE Washington Fair Vet for many years.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved grandson, Gregory Hall. He is survived by his wife, Donna Richards of Colville; daughter, Amy Richards of Bellingham; son, Paul Richards of Portland; step-children, Ron Hall (James) of Palm Springs, Scott Hall of Colville, Randy Hall (Amy) of Colville, Darcie Caruso (James) of Chewelah, grandchildren, Olivia and Zoie Schwartz, step-grandchildren Ricky, Shawn, DJ, Conner (Brooklyn), Candida (Jerry), Sasha (Gentry), and Britney; numerous great grandchildren; sister, Linda Green (Bernie) of Ohio; several cousins, nieces and nephews and a host of extended family.
The memorial service for Dr. Terry Richards will begin at 11am on October 16th at the Ag Trade Center in Colville. Memorial contributions may be given to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Please visit the on-line memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of
Terry Richards, DVM, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.