Patricia Gaines
For anyone reading this that may not know, I'm Richard's daughter-in-law. He called me that long before I ever actually became one. After losing my own dad when I was just 10 years old, I walked around with a void in my life, not knowing that in another ten years that void would be filled. I met Richard well over 15 years ago, and just as the rest of the family did, Richard took me into his heart and his home, and treated me no different than his own children. He listened to my problems; he would unhook the battery from my car when I was too "tipsy" to drive-just so I would have to spend the night and be safe. He even built a little "outhouse" just for me, just so I wouldn't have to keep walking from the fire ring all the way to the house every time I had to go to the bathroom. Whenever there was a party or a wedding, we would dance to "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll." We had many laughs together. I still can't believe he's gone. I love him and will miss him much more than some will know; for in many more ways than I can count, Richard was much more than just a father-in-law to me, he was also MY DAD.