Richard Leo Stotts

Richard Leo Stotts died on January 16, 2023.

Richard was born in 1938 in Pittsburg.

He was a fifth-generation Texan, and also a fifth-generation Pittsburg resident.

By the tender age of seven he had lost both his mother and father and was raised by his grandparents, Ma and Pa on a family farm west of Pittsburgh, where he milked cows, planted crops, and drove a tractor.

In high school, he played football, was in the FFA, and enjoyed shop class and drawing. Richard graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1957. A first-generation college student, he attended Kilgore College, and then Brigham Young University and later received a Doctorate in Education at East Texas State University. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Eastern States mission, which included New York City. After his mission he became a professor of drafting at Grayson County College and later at North Harris County College in Houston.

He married Linda in 1967. Together they raised eight children. After the work was done, he enjoyed watching football, especially his beloved BYU Cougars and Dallas Cowboys. He served a second mission with Linda in Little Rock, Arkansas, where they oversaw seminaries and institutes.

His pride and joy were always his wife, his children and their spouses, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He encouraged his children and grandchildren to serve missions and loved hearing their updates from around the country and world. He did not expect anyone to be anything they weren’t, and he loved inviting his family and friends to dinner and sharing what he had. He never sought fame or fortune, only once owned a new car, never cared about fancy vacations, and always rolled up his blue jeans just like he did in high school. He possessed a heart of gold and always tried to do the right thing. He never preached, but led by example, expecting his children to go to church, work hard, be honest, and serve others.

Richard is survived by seven of his children and his sister Sylvia. He leaves a beautiful legacy to his 33 grandchildren and four adorable great-grandchildren. The thought of his joyful reunion with his loving parents, baby brother, wife, and daughter tempers the grief and leaves us with the surety that he has lived a long and beautiful life and we will be with him again.

A funeral service was held on January 20, 2023.