Lolita Sharon (Kelly) Richey, transitioned from this life peacefully, on October 3, 2018. She was born on September 16, 1945 in Kansas City, Kansas to the late Sanford A. and Freda M. Kelley. Siblings; brother Kevin G. Kelley and sister, Sandra Kimbrough preceded her in death.
Her first marriage to Richard Townsend blessed her with a wonderful son, Richard Townsend Richey. She later untied in holy matrimony, August 22, 1972, to her loving, devoted, loyal and dedicated husband Willie Walton Richey. They were blessed with another wonderful son, Jason Richey.
Lolita accepted Christ at an early age and worshipped at the First Baptist Church of Quindaro in Kansas City, Kansas. Later as an adult, she taught Sunday school in her newly adopted city of Omaha, Nebraska at Pilgrim Baptist Church. She attended Vernon Elementary School, and graduated with the Class of 1962 from Washington High School, and attended Donnelly College.
Lolita’s employment path had humbled beginnings in retail. Her first “real job” was with Cricket West Women’s Clothing Store on the Country Club Plaza of Kansas City, Missouri. However, her career path would take her to even more exciting and challenging opportunities with many agencies within the Federal Government.
She worked for the Federal Aviation Administration, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and ended her federal career with the US Corp of engineers. The job even offered her the unique opportunity to work outside of the United States in Germany for a short period. Lolita was very talented and engaging and enjoyed participating in many venues from childhood and throughout her adult life.
She was a Candy-Striper at Douglas Hospital in Kansas City Kansas. She also studied ballet at the renowned Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance; she was active as a Girl Scott and severed as a “Pitcher” for the Quindaro Girls Softball Team. When the family relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona she continued her community service by volunteering at the esteemed Mayo Clinic.
She also enjoyed bowling, boating, worldwide and state-side travel. This included attending Broadway Plays and other outings in New York, as well as travels to several European cities; inclusive of Munich, Germany, Rome, Italy, and Paris France. She was also and avid collector of African American Paintings and Blackshear Ebony Visions figurines.
Lolita loved collecting and wearing hats as well. One of the highlights of her “Hat Adventure” was a “bidding war” against Warren Buffet’s wife, for one of Oprah’s hats. Lolita won the hat!
initially, she was sent the wrong hat. This was corrected, by allowing her to keep both hats. Lolita leaves to cherish her memory, Husband Willie Walton Richey, of Kansas City, Missouri, sons, Richard (Gisela) Richey, Pearl City, Hawaii, Jason (Karim’e) Richey of Kansas City, Missouri; sister, Willa McKinney of Kansas City, Kansas, brother; Sanford H. Kelley (Kay Mundt) of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Uncle, Clinton (Cynthia) Jiles of Kansas City, Missouri, Mother-in-Law, Frenchie Jones of Kansas City, Missouri, Sister-in-law, Kim (Michael) Rashaw, of Kansas City, Missouri.
Grandchildren: Kenya Richey, Las Vegas, Nevada (Working on her Masters); Nikita Richey, Temple Arizona, (Freshman at Arizona State University) Jayce Richey, Kansas City, Missouri (Cristo Rey Freshman) Kari’ze Richey, Temecula, California, (7th grade, Lake Elsinore), nieces Shelia (Stephen) Johnson, Kansas City, Kansas, Lavita (John) Brandon, Nixa, Missouri, Keva Kelly, Chicago, Illinois, nephews; James L. (Kimberly) Williams III, Greenwood, Missouri; David McKinney, Kansas City, Kansas Brandon (Erin) Kelley of Weatherby Lake, Missouri . Funeral Service will be held 1:00p. m Friday, October 12, 2018 at Mount Calvary COGIC KCMO.
No Visitation period available.
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