Ricardo ‘Richard’ Perez
August 14, 1946 – August 9, 2023
Ricardo “Richard” F. Perez, 76, unexpectedly but peacefully passed away at his home in Moses Lake on Aug. 9, 2023.
Born Aug. 14, 1946, in Atolinga, Zacatecas, Mexico, he shared fond memories of his childhood in rural Mexico. He came to the United States on July 7, 1961, where his family settled in Oxnard, California. His arrival coincided with the beginning of surf culture, which is how he taught himself the English language in part by listening to the Beach Boys. Born with a desire for adventure, he started traveling at a very young age. Those travels took him all over the western United States until he met his wife in 1966.
Together as a young couple, they lived all around the west coast before settling back in Moses Lake to be near her family. His dream of owning his own land became a reality in 1982 when they purchased acreage which he would always lovingly refer to as the homestead. This became the family home where he raised six children and where he loved to watch his cows in the pasture. He was a man of wide and varied interests, science, history and philosophy among them. The wonders of space and nature never ceased to amaze him. He would recite lines from Clint Eastwood movies one day and then quote Socrates the next. He felt music in his soul and would spend hours playing song after song. He also had a deep lifelong appreciation for cars with his latest project being the restoration of a 1970 Dodge Super Bee. “May the road rise up to meet you.”
He is preceded in death by his parents Jesus and Guadalupe and three brothers. He is survived by his wife Olga Perez; his three sons Omar, Miguel and Daniel; his three daughters Maricela, Julia and Veronica; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Viewing will be at Pioneer Memorial Gardens on Thursday, Aug. 17 from 4 to 7 p.m.
Holy Rosary will be recited Friday, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church with Mass following at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Pioneer Memorial Gardens with a luncheon to follow at the Fatima Center.
