Billy Joe Richardson May 5, 1936 ~ June 21, 2023

Billy Joe Richardson, age 87, was reunited with his sweetheart and eternal companion, Merle Black Richardson, on June 21, 2023. He was a deeply loved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Billy was born May 5, 1936, in Monticello, UT to Walter Lavern and Rachel Mary Miller Richardson. 
Billy attended schools in San Juan County and in various places in Oklahoma as the family moved often between the two locations. As a youth, he worked various jobs for local farmers and other businesses. He also served in the United States Army on two separate occasions.
In the spring of 1963, a lady in the Eastland Community decided it was time Billy quit being a bachelor. She and her sister lined him up on a blind date with a girl from Blanding.
That blind date led to a marriage of 59 years! Billy was married and sealed to his sweetheart, Merle Black, on December 4, 1963, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. Together they raised four children on a farm in Eastland, Utah. 
Billy worked for the San Juan County Road Department and was an expert at running the equipment and building roads, plowing snow, or whatever needed done.
He also worked as a mechanic at Corlett’s in Dove Creek and could fix pretty much anything that came in.
Billy decided he wanted to farm, and purchased some land and rented additional land to accomplish this dream. The main crops grown were wheat and pinto beans.
He farmed during the summer and did mechanic work during the winter for both himself and other local farmers. He was well known for being able to fix anything.
As things with the farm advanced, he did less mechanic work and shifted his focus solely to farming. Bill and Merle were awarded “Farmer of the Year” for San Juan County in 2015.
Billy is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many callings and leadership positions in the Church.
He and Merle served a temple mission in the Monticello Temple and served as ordinance workers for 13 years. He loved the temple and talked often of how much he enjoyed serving there.
Billy was also a leader in the Eastland Community, serving many, many years as President of the Eastland Special Services District. During his time serving, the community went through several phases from hauling water to individual cisterns to the current water tower today. Bill and Merle spent countless hours on behalf of the community.
Always a hard worker, Billy is also known for being quiet, humble, strong, honest, dependable, faithful, patient, and kind. He loved to tease and had a great sense of humor. He also loved to tell stories.
He was fascinated with trains and cars and could identify the make, model, and year of pretty much any automobile! He and Merle loved nature and going on scenic rides.
Billy is an incredible example of love, faith, service, and sacrifice. The most important thing to him was family. He often said he was the richest man on earth because of his family.
Billy is survived by his children DeAnn (Tyler) Price, Colleen (Gary) Stewart, Valerie (Andrew) Havens, and Walt (Becky) Richardson, 15 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, brother Jim (Shari) Richardson, sisters Joan Harvey, Donna (Gary) Halls, Rae (Dean) Miller, Linda Richardson, Wanda (Jim) Palmer, and sister-in-law Karen Richardson. 
He is preceded in death and welcomed in heaven by his sweetheart Merle, parents Walt and Rachel Richardson, older brother Marvin Richardson, a younger brother who was stillborn, brothers-in-law Jay Harvey, Brian Miles, and Robert Michaud, and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the Eastland Branch Chapel on Thursday, July 6, 2023, with a viewing from 9 to 10:30 a.m. followed by the services at 11 a.m. Interment with military honors at the Mountain View Cemetery in Eastland.

Card of thanks
The family of Billy Richardson extends sincere thanks for the many acts of help, kindness, love, and support shown by visiting, bringing food, and sending flowers and cards.
Our deep appreciation goes to the staff at Summit Senior Living for their kind and compassionate care these past few months as well as to those who consistently called and visited.
We also thank those participating in the services and the Eastland Branch Relief Society.
DeAnn and Tyler Price
Colleen and Gary Stewart
Valerie and Andrew Havens
Walt and Becky Richardson