Richard Murray Rhea, age 64, of New Almelo, passed away on September 23, 2014 at the Hays Medical Center. He was born on May 16, 1950 in Colby to Merrill and Eleanor (Boyer) Rhea.

Richard was raised on the family farm north of Oakley. As a boy, he spent weekends and summers working with his younger brother Reggie in their dad's custom baling operation throughout Kansas and Oklahoma.

The family moved from Kansas to Arizona and then to Colorado. Richard worked as a baker in Glenwood Springs, Colorado prior to enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam where he was awarded the Rifle Marksman Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, he worked as a drywaller. He was proud of his work building the casinos in Laughlin, Nevada and reconstructing homes damaged in the crash of Flight 182 in San Diego, California. He spent several years working for private homebuilders all over the western United States before settling in New Almelo.

For the past few years Richard was the primary caregiver for his younger brother Rory.

His hobbies were cabinet making and carpentry and he enjoyed building furniture for his family members.

Richard was preceded in death by his father Merrill, son Richard, Jr., his brothers: Ronald (Ronnie), Rudy and Rockland (Rocky) and a sister Melanie Wojtkewicz.

Survivors include his mother Eleanor Rhea of Elizabeth, Colorado, daughter Michelle Koster and husband Kris of Conifer, Colorado, three brothers: Randal (Randy) and wife Helen of New Almelo, Reginald (Reggie) and wife Denise of Lakeside, California, and Rory of Elizabeth, Colorado, and four sisters: Marsha Sue Stanley of Dacono, Colorado, Merrilynn Elmore and husband Rich of Peoria, Illinois, Maureen Collard and husband David of Aurora, Colorado and Merredith Sandefur and husband Jerry of Littleton, Colorado, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 26, 2014 at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Oakley with Pastor Bob Kelly officiating. Interment was in the Oakley Cemetery with Military Honors by the U.S. Marine Corps and Oakley V.F.W. Post 2981. Visitation was from 1:00 p.m. until service time on Friday at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home. Memorials to the charity of the donor's choice may be sent in care of Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 221, Oakley, KS 67748.

www.kennedykosterfh.com