Obituary of Richard Lee Rutherford

Richard Lee Rutherford, age 74 of Morganville, passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at the Leonardville Nursing Home. He was born on August 31, 1941 in Clay Center, the son of Richard (Dick) and Carolee (Whitmarsh) Rutherford. He spent some of his youth in and around Clay Center, but the family moved to Wichita where he attended school. At age 13, he spent a year at St. John’s Military School. During his senior year he moved back to Clay Center and lived with his aunt and uncle, Lucky and Dellaree Crawford. He joined the Navy in 1960 at age 17 and served until 1964. After serving his country, he completed his senior year and graduated from Wichita East High School. He married and divorced his first wife Barbara and later married Lynn, but they separated after he moved back to Clay Center. He lived west of Morganville near his grandparents (Rains) homestead with his adopted and very close friends John Sutton and Diane James along with his daughter Haylee. He was a motorcycle man and loved to ride his cycle and kept it once he became unable to continue riding. He enjoyed watching sports on TV, especially the Royals, Jayhawks, Wildcats and his Wichita State Shockers. He liked fishing, mostly in the river. He was a man of many trades, working on cycles, roofing for Crawford’s Roofing, Keller Roofing, Ron’s Plumbing and Hutchison’s Manufacturer in Clay Center. He also did some carpenter and framing work. He is survived by one son, Josh Rutherford; one daughter, Haylee Sutton; four grandchildren, Richard, Gage, Brock and Alexis-Nicole; cousins, Nan, Claude, Penny and many others. He will join his parents and family in heaven. Cremation is planned with a memorial service at a later date. A memorial has been established for the Richard Rutherford Memorial Fund. Contributions may be left in care of the Anderes-Pfeifley Funeral Home in Riley, P.O. Box 176, Riley, Kansas 66531.