Alma Richards

Alma Knox was born October 7, 1923 at the farm home of her parents, Arthur and Hazel Drake Knox near South Haven, Kansas and passed from this life on September 18, 2021 in Oklahoma City.  She attended school at South Haven, graduating in 1941. In high school she participated in the girls’ glee club, girls’ quartet, accompanist for the glee club for one year, orchestra, piano, and sang in the church youth choir.  She, her sister, and two brothers played in an instrumental quartet accompanied by their mother.  She was in her mother’s yearly piano recitals.

September 1, 1942 she enrolled in the National Youth Administration (NYA) program in aircraft gas welding in Arkansas City, Kansas.  She worked a year at Cessna Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas, welding on the Cessna Bobcat, a year at Boeing Aircraft riveting on the B-17, a year at Beechcraft in the Accounting Department and sang in the Beechcraft Melody Bells that performed on KANS radio station in Wichita.

In 1946 she married Lawrence Richards, who had served in North Africa and Italy.  They lived in the Salina, Kansas area six years.  Their daughters, Jeanette and Barbara, were born there.  In 1952 they moved to the farm near Cherokee, Oklahoma.  Their sons, Charles and Michael, were born there.  She attended her children’s many school, sports, music, and church activities.

She worked twenty-two and a half years as secretary for the Soil Conservation Service and Alfalfa County Conservation District office in Cherokee.  After retiring she and Lawrence enjoyed spending time at their cabin in the mountains near Red River, New Mexico.  She enjoyed reading, working word and jig-saw puzzles, watching OU, OSU, and Thunder basketball games, and the Davinci coffee girls.

She cherished and was very proud of her children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses, and great grandchildren.  She pieced quilts for all of them, remembered birthdays, anniversaries. and special holidays.   There was always cookies in the deep freeze for the grandchildren and families.

She and Lawrence were married 55 years when he passed away in 2001.  She stayed on the farm a year, moving to Enid in 2002 to be near her daughter, Barbara and husband, Michael Rickman M.D.

She was a lifetime Methodist, 50 of those years at the Cherokee United Methodist Church and 19 years at First United Methodist Church in Enid.  She was a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class, First United Methodist Women, First United Methodist Sparrows Quilting, SCS and NARCS Retirees, American Rosie the Riveters Association, Charter Member of the World War II Memorial Washington, D.C., Charter Member of the World War II Museum New Orleans, Louisiana, supported the Quilts of Valor and donated a quilt.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; twin brother, Alvin (Charlene) (Gloria) Knox; older brother and sister (twins), Warren (Barbara) Knox; Wanda Knox (Harlen) McClarnon/(Warren) Munyon.

She is survived by her children, Jeanette (Robert) Smith, of Norman, Barbara (Michael) Rickman, M.D. of Enid, Charles (Pam) of Edmond, and Michael (Suzy) Richards of Tulsa; granddaughters, Sheridyn (Jim) Williamson, Sabreana (Matt) Marsh, Chrissa (Ramon) Ortega; grandsons, Jason Rickman, Brandon (Judy) Richards, Brian Richards, Patrick (Courtney) Richards, and Joseph Richards; great grandchildren, Adonis (Megan) Smith, Kyla Smith Hyter, Miguel, Cali, Mateo Ortega, Conner, Brinley, Carson, Daxton, Harrison, Hadley Richards; two step great granddaughters, Addison and Madalyn Marsh; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Viewing will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Cherokee.  A private family graveside service will be held at Cherokee Municipal Cemetery.  www.lanmanmemorials.com  Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home, Inc.

Memorials may be given to Enid First United Methodist Church or Cherokee First United Methodist Church through the funeral home.