Douglas Earl Richey class of 1949 and retired Mathematics Teacher, age 94, of Mason, Michigan, died July 14, 2025; born September 10,1930 to Glenn and Ruth (Schleicher) Richey. Doug was a graduate of MSC; he was instrumental in establishing the calculus program at Okemos High School and served as the department head. He retired after 35 years teaching at Okemos High School. He was a member and very active in Mason First Church of the Nazarene teaching Sunday School and Bible Classes for over 20 years; he also served on the Church Board for over 20 years. He enjoyed woodworking and liked to carve and paint ducks and birds. He graduated from the ROTC program at MSC and had served as a 1st Lieutenant in the Signal Corps of the United States Army during the Korean War. He was discharged on July 31,1955 and married the love of his life, Dorothy Mae (Goad) Richey on August 13, 1955. He raised five boys and was a loving father and husband.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Dorothy Mae (Goad) Richey; sons, Gary (Penny) Richey, James (Patti) Richey, Thomas (Cynthia) Richey; and Scott Richey. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; 1 brother, Garth (Jan) Richey; Sister-in-law(s), Arlene Richey and Ethel Richey, sister-in-law(s), Doris (Marvin) Goad, Carole (Bill) Goad, Marlene (Wayne) Denison. His son Daniel L. Richey passed away in 2017.
The Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mason First Church of the Nazarene, 415 E. Maple, Mason, MI. After Military Honors, a celebration of life will follow in the Nazarene Church Fellowship Hall. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the Church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to City Rescue Mission of Lansing.
Arrangements entrusted to Vickers Leslie Funeral Home, 109 N. Church Street/PO Box 503, Leslie, MI 49251. (517) 878-6600.
A thank you goes to an anonymous alumni for notification of Mr. Richey's passing.
The following pages are from the Okemos High School 1949 Yearbook courtesy of CADL, Forest Parke Library & Archives Collection
May 1953 - Michigan State College graduation (MSC)
https://www.vickersfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Douglas-Earl-Richey?obId=43914662
Anne Harvey (Smith) (1965)
I remember him in math classes, Algebra II and Trigonometry. He loved his math. He would write on the board with his back to us and talk and talk about the equations almost as though they were great friends of his. I got through Algebra II, but Trig, oh my. Mr. Richey tried to make it understandable. Well, since it was my senior year that might have been the reason I found it so hard to concentrate. I just remember how much he enjoyed math. His enjoyment made me pay attention even if I still didn't understand what a sine and cosine were. He lived a long life. Maybe it was all those athletics and doing what he loved that allowed him all that time. Rest in Peace, Mr. Richey.