Florence B. Richards (93) of Effingham

Florence B. Richards, 93, of Effingham, IL, passed away at 3:19 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 29 at Johnson Funeral Home, 1110 N. Fourth Street, Effingham, IL. Burial will be in Beecher City Cemetery in Beecher City. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made in loving memory of Florence to the HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, 503 N. Maple Street, Effingham, IL 62401 or the Beecher City Cemetery.

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Florence was born on September 14, 1923, in Beecher City, IL, the daughter of Harold D. “Jack” and Fannie E. (Bond) Smith. She married Ray A. Richards on August 17, 1946, in Beecher City, IL, and he preceded her in death on October 16, 2006. Florence was a retired elementary school teacher, having taught in Beecher City, Shumway, and Stewardson-Strasburg. She was a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and the University of Illinois. She attended Centenary United Methodist Church in Effingham, and for many years was a volunteer at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member of the Ann Crooker St. Clair Chapter of NSDAR, The Mayflower Society, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Order of the Eastern Star. She was also on the election board and volunteered at The Cross in Effingham. She enjoyed watching Cardinal baseball and Illini basketball. She had a wonderful memory and liked when her former students would recognize and visit with her. Florence also found joy in genealogy, reading, and sending and receiving cards.

Florence is survived by her children, Mark (Debra) Richards of Stewardson, Beth (Dr. Steve) Macke of Marshall, Julie Krietemeier of Charleston, and John (Perrie) Richards of Effingham; grandchildren, Allison (Chris) Walden, Chris Macke, Megan (Pete) Pistorius, Sarah (Ryan) Wyckoff, Laura (Dave) Thomas, Mallory (Bryce) Weber, Ashley Krietemeier, and Meredith Richards; 17 great-grandchildren, Emma, Isabel, Olivia, and William Pistorius; Zaylee and Sydney Macke; Leo, Maddux, and Dawson Wyckoff; Ava, Maleah, Garrett, and Bailey Thomas; Hadleigh and Hampton Walden; and Brynn and Tessa Weber; sister, Janet Smith of Effingham; and brother, Jim (Barb) Smith of Port Orange, FL.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son-in-law, Al Krietemeier; granddaughter, Maria Macke; great-granddaughters, Teigan and Tinsley Walden; and brothers, Durward “Bud” (Carolyn) Smith and Dave (Ethel) Smith.