Richard "Ricky" Steward, Jr.

Richard “Ricky” Steward, Jr. was born in Maysville, Kentucky to the late Richard and Shirley Ann Steward.  His first breath was on April 13, 1954 and his last smile was on January 7, 2021 in Lawrence, Kansas after a long and valiant battle.

Ricky accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Bethel Baptist Church.  He graduated from Maysville High School in 1972.  Shortly thereafter, he joined the United States Armed Forces, where he did a tour in Germany, and was honorably discharged after four years of service.  After leaving the military, he relocated to Kansas and worked for the Mayflower trucking company for several years and eventually became an entrepreneur and opened his own detailing business.

Richard was the oldest of his siblings. Although they talked daily and were extremely close, he frequently reminded them that he was “the first born of Richard and Shirley’s children.  He was an exceptional father to his three daughters.  He loved his girls with everything he had to give and was so proud to be a dad.  He taught them the value of hard work and to always put God first.  He was a fun loving guy with a smile that would light up any room. He loved to be the center of attention and he was not afraid to stand out in any crowd, which usually consisted of him wearing a large cowboy hat and cowboy boots.  In his spare time, he enjoyed watching old Western movies, playing with his grandchildren, chatting on the phone with his Uncle Peter, or spending time with family and close friends.

Ricky is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Shirley Ann Steward; special companion, Virginia “Ginny” Proctor, and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins who loved him.

He leaves to cherish his memory three daughters, Michelle Shields Sanders, Taryn Steward, and Ciera Steward; three daughters by heart, Monica Proctor, Jessica Beason and Jessica Freeman; grandchildren, Amiyah Sanders, Amir Owens, Amaurion Owens, and Kamahri Robinson; grandchildren by heart, Elias and Hazel Beeson, Jillian and Jacklyn Markway (all of Lawrence, KY); siblings, June (Timothy) Walker (Jacksonville, FL),  Bobbi Steward (Louisville, KY),  Marilyn (Keith) Turner and Joseph Steward (Maysville, KY); aunts, Edna (Vincent) Thomas (Gahanna, OH), Judith Gordon and Vonda Lofton (Maysville, KY); uncles, Theodore (Dorine) Gordon (Upper Marlboro, MD), Eddie Barksdale (Sacramento, CA), and James (Mattie) Steward (Maysville, KY); dear friends, Anthony Silmon, Steve Walker, Harold Shepard, and Mike Cullen (Lawrence, KS); and a host of relatives.

To our beloved Ricky, you will truly be missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing you.  Although we were not prepared to lose you, we find comfort in knowing a few indisputable truths.  You have gone home to be with the Lord.  You are no longer in pain and we WILL meet again.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 2 PM on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at Bethel Baptist Church in Maysville with the Rev. Terrence Taylor officiating. Interment will follow in the Green Acres Cemetery.  A walk through visitation will be held on Saturday from 1-2 PM at the church.  The Palmer Funeral Home & Crematory of May’s Lick is serving the family.  Online condolences to www.palmerfuneralhome.net 

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