Richard Southard, 63, of McAlester, died Sunday, July 26, 2009, at Solaris Hospital in Shawnee.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Perteet Family Cemetery in Bugtussle with Kevin Kasparek officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Brumley-Mills Funeral Home of McAlester.
Born March 2, 1946, in McAlester, he was the son of Allen Newton and Annabelle (Rice) Southard. He grew up here and at the age of 15 he joined the National Guard. He received his honorable discharge in 1976.
He worked for the Weaver Pump Repair company until purchasing it in 1964, and it soon became Southco Equipment Company. He sold that business in 1982 and started Southard and Son Bobcat Service, operating this business until his illness forced him to stop working.
He married Margie Spears June 5, 1964, in Stigler.
Survivors include his wife, Margie Southard, of the home; one son and daughter-in-law, Ricky and Rachel Southard, of McAlester; three grandchildren, Rowdy, Rainey and Reagan Southard; one great-grandchild, Reese.
Also, two brothers and sisters-in-law, Clarence and Kitty Southard, of Owasso. and Kenneth and Maxine Southard, of Ash Creek; six sisters and four brothers-in-law, Dorothy and Carl Todd, of Haywood, Gracie and Don Testa, of Adamson, Ruth and Ed Pickering, of Bokoshe, Alice and Lawrence Day, Douglas, Ga., Clara Garcia, of Haileyville, and Juanita Ringer, of McAlester.
And, sisters-in-law, Vera Southard, of Krebs, Ruth Ann Beck and her husband, Stan, of Missouri, and Lottie Turney and her husband, Bill, of McAlester; brother-in-law, Tommy Spears and his wife, Betty, of McAlester, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Doyle and Jack and Mitchell Southard, and sisters, Mildred Steidley and Mattie Clancey.
Pallbearers will be Don Lawson, Steve Brewer, Stan Beck, Bill Turney, Tommy Spears and Todd Smith.
