O.C. "Clay" Richardson

Orren Clay Richardson, 92, of Wharton, TX, passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2015. He spent his last few years residing at Elmcroft Assisted Living, Wharton, TX. He was born on May 30, 1923, on his grandfather’s ranch near Poth, TX, to Frank and Virgie Richardson. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 2, 2015, from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Wharton Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held Saturday October 3, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. with Brother Tony Wishert officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park with Tye Krueger, Daniel Cox, Bill Kirkpatrick, Hartzel Sherrill, Dan Brod, and Herb McCown serving as pallbearers. At the age of 6, Clay moved with his parents and siblings from Gulf, TX, to Newgulf, TX. He attended Newgulf Elementary and Boling High School. While in high school, he worked part-time at one of the local gas stations and as a caddy at the Newgulf Golf Course. He took a nine month drafting course at Texas A&M University before joining the Field Department with Texas Gulf Sulphur Co., Newgulf, TX. Being drafted into the US Army during WWII, Clay served four years in the 1785th Army Supply Unit. Before his discharge from the Army, he furthered his education in France taking drafting courses. Once back in the States, he attended Rice University where he met Barbara Parks; they were married August 22, 1947. As a newly married couple, they moved to Newgulf where they lived for 39 years. In 1987, they moved to their newly built home in the Lake Nett Subdivision, Wharton, TX. After working 36 years for Texas Gulf Sulphur Co., Newgulf, TX, Clay retired at the age of 60 as Chief Surveyor in the Engineering Dept. In his younger years he loved to ride his Arabian horse Dan, and partake in Monday night calf roping events. He spent many years maintaining his 100 plus head of cattle. He loved to hunt. While most of his professional career was spent in Newgulf, he spent time in Arizona and Louisiana staking mining claims. Clay faithfully served as church deacon at both Newgulf Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Wharton. In January 2010 he was presented the Deacon Emeritus Award for his 58 years of service. Clay is survived by daughters L. Diane Richardson Krueger of Marshville, NC, and Marjorie D. Richardson Cox of Phoenix, AZ; son Stephen C. Richardson of Beaumont, TX; grandsons Tye E. Krueger of Bend, OR, Daniel C. Cox of Lenoir City, TN, and Jeremy W. Cox of Phoenix, AZ; granddaughter Tiffany K. Massengill of Knoxville, TN; two great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as his dear friend Dorothy Reeves. The family thanks you for your heartfelt wishes and in lieu of flowers requests that memorials be made to: First Baptist Church of Wharton, 507 N Fulton St, Wharton, TX 77488.