Willis “Leon” Richardson of Eureka, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka, at the age of 92. He was born June 11, 1931, in Severy, the son of Lee Roy and Mary Ellen (Stonebraker) Richardson. He was raised in Greenwood County and attended Climax High School. He served during the Korean War in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1955, serving aboard the USS Iowa and USS Missouri battleships. He was honorably discharged on October 25, 1955.
Leon was united in marriage to Orella Jane Guisinger on April 26, 1956. To this union, four children were born.
Leon worked for the A. C. Houston Lumber Company in Eureka. He then owned and operated his own livestock trucking business hauling and delivering cattle, hogs, and sheep to local sale barns, with many trips to the Wichita Stockyards. Leon worked at Eureka Livestock Auction for over four decades.
Leon loved his cows and kept busy taking care of them along with feeding cattle for Frank Bills. He also leased Flint Hills acreage for the summer cattle grazing season.
He was a member of the Kansas Livestock Association and the Greenwood County Cattlemen’s Association, serving as parade Grand Marshal in 2012 for the annual Cattlemen’s Day celebration.
He is survived by three children: Steve Richardson and wife, Vicki of Iola; Teresa Ely and husband, Jim of McCook, Neb.; and Janice Massey and husband, Greg of Eureka; daughter-in-law, Kim Richardson of Eureka: six grandchildren: Mandy Gibson, Colt Massey, Nicole Richardson, Chet Ely, Brittany Daugharthy, and Shae Richardson; nine great-grandchildren; and two siblings: Larry Richardson of Eureka, and Patsy Flook of Mesa, Ariz.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Orella; parents; one brother, Melvin; one sister, Sue Spain and a son, Mike Richardson.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m., Saturday, December 2, 2023, at Koup Family Funeral Home, Eureka with Rev. Linda Pope of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Interment followed at Greenwood Cemetery, Eureka. Visitation hours were set from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Eureka Saddle Club or Greenwood County Hospital Foundation. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.
