Richard James Otey Sr.
Thank you for your service
Richard served in the armed forces. We honor that service here.
Rick Otey, 74, of Azle, Texas, took the Lord’s hand and followed him home the morning of October 29, 2023. He was surrounded by loved ones as he passed peacefully into the next chapter of his life.
Rick was a caring, humble man who hated war and violence, but loved his country and served it with honor when called upon. He was a decorated Vietnam veteran who served in the Army’s 1st Calvary Division. He was also an amateur tennis player, karaoke singer, and a professional jokester. It wasn’t uncommon for him to walk up to random strangers in public and start telling jokes. He also loved random acts of kindness, always finding joy in giving things to others, whether he knew them or not.
He met Donna Otey in 2007 and they were married on Veteran’s Day in 2011 (11/11/11). Even before they were married, he adopted her entire family and treated them as if they were his own. He was loved dearly by that family and the void left in his absence is impossible to fill. It seems sometimes there are so few genuinely good, kind people in this world, and every time we lose one it’s a loss for the entire planet. Now that he’s at rest, probably cracking jokes with Jesus, it’s our wish that he knows how deeply he will be missed until we all meet again one day.
Rick, being the humble man that he was, was adamant he didn’t want a funeral or a big fuss. In lieu of flowers and cards, the family asks that each of you simply commit a random act of kindness to some stranger in his honor. He loved nothing more than making people smile and nothing would have made him happier.
The world Richard knew
Family milestones in gold, history for context
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