Richard Harvey Justice Sr.

Richard “Rick” Harvey Justice Sr, went to be with our Heavenly Father, July 28, 2023, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Grand Junction, Colorado.  Rick is survived by his wife of almost 49 years Cora “Jane” Justice of the Home, Daughters Nita (William) Brammeier of Grand Junction, CO, Lisa (Arron) Geske of Grand Junction, CO, and son Richard “Ricky” Jr of the home.  Grandchildren: Danielle (Jayjay) Villamena of Colorado Springs, CO, Megan Fain Of Colorado Springs, CO, Brandon (Morgan) Ruffner of Fruita, CO, Ellisjah Jackson of Grand Junction, CO, Tori Dickson of Grand Junction, CO, Chloe Ruffner of Grand Junction, CO, Katie (Ford) Adams of Colorado Springs, CO, Gage Geske of Grand junction, CO, and the little ones Sophia, Elijah, James, Joseph, and Hensley all of Grand Junction, CO. Great grandchildren: Jameson and Harrison Ruffner of Fruita, CO, Laila Martinez of Grand Junction, CO, and William “Will” Villamena of Colorado Springs, CO. Rick is also survived by many nieces including Angela Orr, Kristina Justice, Erica Rowlett, nephews Billy Orr Jr and Anthony Justice, Brother-in-law Bill Odem and William Brammeier Sr., Cousins Deborah Maxwell and Wally Hughes.   There are many, many more children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of the heart who Rick showed the same love, compassion, and understanding that he gave to his own. 

Rick was born in #10 Hollow, Gary, WV, October 21, 1953, to Harvey and Doris Justice.  He had one sister Nita Odem and a younger brother Michael “Tony” Justice who all preceded him in death.  Rick moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL at 6 and met his best friends, George Poskitt, Kenny Hartman, George Faulner, Mike Kehoe, Ray Miller, and Jim Faehr.  The group of friends had many adventures throughout his life, most recently in October, this past year, for their 50^th High School Reunion for Plantation High School.  After high school, Rick worked in many different careers. paths.  He worked for the State Road Department of Florida, as a coal miner in his hometown of Gary, WV, as a Detail Manager for Toyota, and his favorite and final career path, traveling with his best friends installing conveyors for bulk mail centers all over the United States before retiring in 2008.

Many times, Rick was the dad figure who you called for prayers and advice, helping make doughnuts at 1 am when stressed out, the safe person to save a child from a wrong decision and a trip home at 1 am, and the best hugs in the world.  He was the one that brought you a Dr. Pepper one day after you posted to Facebook you really wanted one and he was the one who brought you lunch or snacks at work, ‘just because’.

Rick was a person who never knew a stranger whether it was the check out person at City Market, or the guy two tables down at Bingo, he knew their stories, their family, and their lives.  Offering hugs, compassion, and most importantly prayers to his many friends. We often had to remind him he was going to be late because he talked to everyone.  He was the Papa that was at every ball game, cheer event, choir concert, band event, and History Day until his body couldn’t do the extreme changes in weather anymore. 

His favorite thing to do was to go fishing and hunting.  He would catch anything he could get on a hook, including himself once, and he hunted anything that presented a challenge from deer to ginseng.   He was also a conservationist.  He taught his kids and grandkids how to hunt and fish without robbing nature of the future.  Rick was very passionate about panning for gold and hoped to find missing treasures when his health allowed.  He also loved to have fun, even riding waterslides with his grandkids as recently as 2021, on a family vacation. 

The light Rick carried with him can never be replaced but his family takes solace that he is walking the streets of gold without oxygen, pain, or tremors to slow him down or hinder him in any way.