- Date Of Birth: June 24, 1941
- Date Of Death: February 11, 2021
- State: Michigan
Our loving Dad, Doting Grandpa, Great-Grandfather to many, Brother, Brother-In-Law, Brother in Christ and Friend Richard Wayne Tully was called home unexpectedly on the morning of Wednesday, February 11th. Richard (Dick – Dickie) was born June 24th, 1941 in Charleston, West Virginia and moved sometime in early childhood to Mt. Pleasant Michigan, where he met and courted (chased around) Barbara Kay Johnston. They were married, July 1st, 1961. Immediately afterwards, he joined the U.S.
Army, serving from 1961-1964, stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia and being honorably discharged as a SGT (P) EF Rank. This was also the starting point of the first of his 4 “Tully” girls, that would come along. The young family moved to Albion, Michigan and Richard started his career as a Truck Driver. He loved to DRIVE, even stating in his last days that he felt most alive driving! Eventually, the growing family moved to Schoolcraft, Michigan and Richard started a very long driving career, hauling liquid oxygen for AGA Burdox (Gases), retiring in 1998.
Richard was re-born again in 1981, when he was baptized in Sugar Loaf Lake and turned his life over to the One and Only Savior Jesus Christ! He was a devout study of his Bible and Jewish teachings. He was a self-taught musician and often entertained the family at the “cooking of breakfast hour” with folk songs. Music was a passion of his, he loved to play his guitar, write songs and was a long-time participant in the worship service at Schoolcraft Assembly of God. He was a devoted Lions and Tigers fan.
He loved to golf and looked forward in his later years to winters in Florida with Barbara, where he would tease that he was golfing and fishing, when were back here working and freezing. “You girls keep working and keep paying into my social security, so I can be in the sunshine”, he would like to say. Now he is in the best SONshine ever! Reunited with his beautiful wife, chasing her around in Heaven, while Dyana looks on and giggles.
He was a happy, charismatic, spontaneous spirit and will be missed by many!
Richard was preceded in death by his wife Barbara Kay Johnston, married almost 60 years, Daughter Dyana Lee Johnson (Brett) and granddaughter Eliya Monet Rain Hayward, his parents Silas Edgar, Rebecca and brother David Tully.
He leaves behind his brother Daniel Tully and his sister Gloria Murphy, many nieces and nephews.
His daughters and son-in laws, Angie (Russell) Hayward of Mattawan, Becky (Nathan) Volker of Allegan and Cindy (Bill) Hetrick of Vicksburg and Brett Johnson of Portage.
And with an impression on them that will last forever, his 16 grandchildren.
David (Katie) Hayward, Kerigan Hayward, Cole (Kate) Hayward, Molly Hayward, Seth Hayward, Randi (Frank) Salisbury, Jordan (Carissa) Hayward, Ben Hayward, Leah Hayward, Tatum Hayward, Daniel (Rochelle) Stroud, Jimmy (Deziree) Page, Bridgette (Gideon) Page, Emmaline (Kyle) Harvey, Jeremiah Johnson, Zechariah Johnson.
He also leaves behind, which astounded him beyond measure sometimes, twenty – one Great Grand Children. He would say, “just think, this was all because of me and Ma”!
