Mary M. Richey, an accomplished fine artist, passed away peacefully on Jan 17, 2024. She was born September 27, 1930, in Canton, Ohio, to Elinor and Stephen Moreland.
In 1948 she eloped and married her High School sweetheart, Gilbert Richey, in Beech Grove, Indiana, where they started a journey that eventually led them to Hudson, WI in the late 50’s. They raised 8 children on the beautiful Fox Valley Farm on Badlands Road. Mary managed a busy household, lead Scout troops and 4H groups, grew beautiful flower and vegetable gardens, taught Sunday school, and sewed for her family. She joined a group of women who painted once a week under the direction of Paul Kramer, Art Kerek, and Clair and Maudie Fry, well-known Twin Cities painters.
Mary graduated in 1972 from the UW-River Falls with a double major in Art and English. She traveled to Europe for 3 months. She was a Title VIII teacher in Webster and then taught Art in Frederic. She traveled to Mexico in 1983.
In retirement, Mary focused on her art, treating each day as an 8 hour shift in her studio. In addition to oil paintings, portraits, etchings, woodcuts and collages, she created and sold ceramic pottery.
In 1987, Mary and Gil bought a sailboat with plans to sail around the world; Mary packed watercolors. They moved to Florida to be close to their boat, and sailed to the Bahamas. Eventually Mary and Gil bought a house in Ft. Myers. Mary painted in her studio and showed work in galleries. Her other favorite pastimes were reading, swimming in their pool, and tending her orchids, fruit trees, and flowers.
After Gil’s death she traveled to Cuba, attended her Unitarian Church, taught the occasional painting class, and welcomed her children and grandchildren, often touring Sanibel Island, Corkscrew Swamp, and the Edison Museum
In 2021 she moved up north to be closer to her family. She lived with her daughter on Perch Lake, loving to sit on the deck and listen to the birds.
She was preceded in death by husband Gilbert, children Steve Richey (Judy), Bill Richey (Connie), Jane Richey; sister Margaret Bilton; and Rafael her Maltese. Mary is survived by her children Sara Richey (Dennis), Anne Richey-Allen (Steve), John Richey (Robin), Calvin Richey (Robin), and Mary “Molly” Ponce de Leon (Antonio & Aaron) and two siblings, Anne Kern and Stephen Moreland.
Mary will forever remain in the hearts of her children, 18 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.
Her Celebration of Life is planned for this spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to: The Museum of Russian Art, Minneapolis, MN; the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Myers, FL; UW River Falls art department scholarships.
Funeral Services Entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson.
