June 13, 1954 ~ March 18, 2025
A memorial service will be scheduled for a later date to celebrate and remember the life of Norman "Jackie" Richards. Jackie passed away at his home in Foyil on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. He was 70 years old.
Born in Morton, TX on June 13, 1954, to Chester Gerald “CG” and Bertie Ruth (West) Richards. Jackie was raised and educated in his birth community and graduated from Morton High School. He went on to faithfully serve his country in the United States Air Force. After receiving his honorable discharge, Jackie began a career in law enforcement. Throughout his life he held several different jobs, but perhaps; the one that meant the most to him was working for the Department of Human Services. It was in this position that he collaborated with other veterans to help them acclimate to life outside of the armed services.
A man that chose to live a very private life and be on and off the gride so to speak. One thing that Jackie always made very clear to his close circle of friends is that if something ever happened to him, his brother would be there. Jackie was gifted not only as a musician but as an artist as well. He had the ability to pick up his guitar and play almost anything he heard. He was self-taught and could also sing and compose music as well. Jackie liked to share his talents by playing at coffee houses but would never play at a bar. He always said, “I won’t entertain drunk people.” When it came to his ability as an artist, Jackie could pencil sketch anything. In fact, he had taken an old photo of his mother and made a pencil sketch that hung in his home. It is now a prized possession of his brother Gerald.
Jackie has left a legacy of music and art that will live on in the lives of his family. He is survived by his brother Gerald Richards and wife Jaquita, sister, Verna Johnson and husband Jackie, nephews, Darryl Bales, Mark Bales, Marshall Bales, Michael Bradley, and Jason Richards, nieces, Amber Wilson and Sarah Competio. Jackie was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Clara Bales and husband Donald Bales.