Richard L. Johnson

Richard Lee "Dickie" Johnson was born March 6, 1945 in Cape Girardeau, the son of William Lafayette "Lafe" Johnson and Edith Runnels Johnson and passed away Friday, September 6, 2024, at St. Francis Medical Center, at the age of 79. In the mid 60's, following the passing of his mother and father, Dickie was brought into the family of Claude "Nip" Kelley, his father's friend, whom Lafe had asked to take care of his "special" son upon his passing. From that time, Dickie became part of Nip and Wanda's family, being raised alongside his younger "brothers" Vince and Terrence. Dickie permanently moved into Terrence and his family's home then in 1999, and his new journey and family was at the Lutheran Home, where he resided the past two years. There are so many Dickie stories over the years, too many to list. During the day he was the on-site manager of the Nip Kelley shop, with a pocket full of ink pens ready to sign delivery tickets, until he would go missing after finding or collecting an extra dollar or two (and if you knew Dickie you know what he did with his new found riches)! He certainly kept everyone on their toes with his whereabouts and what he was up to at any given moment. Bless your heart, all those who obliged him every time you heard, "You got a dollar"? As his Kelley family grew, Dickie loved attending all the weddings and dancing with everyone, as he never wanted to miss an event or party. He loved seeing his nieces and nephews, and he holds a special place in all their hearts. Dickie especially loved celebrating his birthday, and in his younger years celebrated an extra birthday along with Vince and Terrence. Birthdays were a special time for Dickie. Dickie loved his St James AME Church family and he never missed a Sunday at church and was very proud of his job as greeter and usher. Dickie is survived by his Johnson family, sister, Lydia Kinder of Cleveland, OH, and brother, William "Bill" Johnson of St. Louis. Also surviving are his Kelley family, Wanda Kelley-Kirkpatrick, Vince & Jan Kelley, and Terrence & Kim Kelley, all of Cape. As well as many nieces and nephews, in the Johnson and Kelley families. Dickie was preceded in death by his parents; eight siblings, Lillian Johnson, Mildred Wilson, Mary Lynch, Leonard Johnson, Barbara Stewart, Joan King, Larry Johnson, and Magdalene Newman. He was also preceded in death by Nip Kelley. Special thanks to his cousin Charlotte and Terry Wade for loving on Dickie, you held a special place in his heart. And to the Lutheran Home staff, you all became family to Dickie, he loved his time there, playing Bingo, taking field trips, being Santa at Christmas, and spending time at his table doing his favorite thing, coloring. He even played Bingo his last afternoon on this earth. Dickie was forever a child in a 79 year old body, always with a smile and a "How you doin?" May we all be more like Dickie, with a smile on our face and happiness in our heart. If you would like to make a donation in Dickie's honor, he loved his church, St. James AME Church of Cape, as well as The Lutheran Home, Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be 10:00 am to 12:00 pm Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Ford & Sons Sprigg St. Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Geneva Allen-Patterson officiating. Burial will be at New Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau. Ford & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com .

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Richard L. Johnson

March 6, 1945 - September 6, 2024