December 22, 1943 - March 21, 2014
RICHARDS, Mary (Galt) Mary was born in Carson City, Nevada on December 22, 1943. She grew up in Lewistown, Montana before relocating to Spokane and graduating from North Central High School where she made the National Honor Society and was a Red Feather. She married the love of her life, Warren J. Richards of Newport Washington, in 1963 and celebrated 50 happy years together in October 2013. Mary was actively involved in Cub Scouts and Camp Fire girls with her kids, and was ""Mom"" to the whole neighborhood. She was fun to be around, quick to laugh, loving, and very devoted to those she cared about. Mary was an extremely talented seamstress, crafter, and artist with a crochet hook, opening her own craft business Maricraft. She earned dual degrees in general business and accounting, and earned her drafting certificate in 1982 from SCC and kept Honor Roll grades. She then had a career with the City of Spokane. Mary spent endless hours making toys, clothes, and needed items to donate to the Shriners Children's Hospital and the Nascar Kids. Mary had a mind ahead of her time and was unusually creative, inventing and copyrighting a multitude of varying ideas such as a board game, a mobile for the mentally challenged, crochet trucks and other toys, a book, and many other items. She was an astute problem solver, critic and dedicated fan without fear who wrote letters to companies, politicians, celebrities and the President of the United States on many occasions, and got results. In addition to being around family and friends, Mary loved to travel with Warren in their RV, usually heading for the ocean, airshows/ museums or NASCAR races. Mary is preceded in death by her mother Jean B. and father Theodore Michaelson, and grandson Jared C. Richards. Mary is survived by her husband Warren Richards; sisters Kathleen Small and Shirley Swingley and her Brother Bill Galt; children Jeffrey Richards and wife Margie and Jeanine Nichols and husband Tony. She adored her grandchildren Alexandra Marion, Kathryn Richards, Carly Winz, Jared Richards, Elizabeth Richards, Julian Richards and Melanie Rigsby. Mary's heart was breaking and ultimately stopped beating as she watched her husband of 50 years succumb to Alzheimer's. She chose to wait for him in heaven and left this earth on March 20, 2014. A Memorial Service and celebration of life is being planned for May 17th at the Fairmount Chapel at 1:00 p.m.
