Richardson, Arris Maxine Brown (1921-2019)

RICHARDSON, BROWN, RILEY, BEALMER, NORCROSS, MOORE, RUSSELL, MATHEWS

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:51:58

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, April 19, 2019

Arris Maxine Brown Richardson passed away Friday, January 11, 2019, at the age of 97 years.
She was born April 25, 1921 in Webster City, Iowa. Her parents were Charles and Alice Brown, who lived on a small farm that still stands today, on the south side of the Webster City city limits. She had two older sisters, Glee Riley and Arlene Bealmer, and a brother, Marvin that preceded her in death. The family was self-sufficient on their farm and didn’t feel the brunt of the Great Depression according to Arris. Her father raised cattle and hogs and at one time owned Brown Dairy in Webster City, IA.
Arris married Howard Richardson, June 30, 1940, at the Little Brown Church in the Vale, in Nashua, Iowa. They started their family on the “Richardson Prairie Farm” between Webster City and Blairsburg, IA, and began the Richardson Royal Pony Farm in 1944. She grew up in the Church of Christ denomination but after the family moved a mile to the southeast of Story City, IA, in 1958, she became a member of the First United Methodist church in Story City, IA.
Arris was a dedicated farm wife who supported her husband and family. She was always busy with house hold chores for the family: cooking, baking, sewing, canning, making jelly or just gathering eggs from the hen house. She enjoyed singing and playing her piano in her earlier years. She was always jovial in disposition and loved to laugh with family. Most conversations would end with a statement of astonishment such as: “well, for Heaven’s sake” or “is that right?” as she listened intently. Always physically active, she even cleaned house part time for another senior citizen younger than her up to age 90. She was known for her fondness for bananas and to eat quite a few per day, which she attributed to her long life. She said her father would sometimes bring home a whole stalk of bananas and it wouldn’t last long. She spent the last few years living with her daughter, Shirley Moore, in Amarillo, TX, making occasional visits back up to Story City.
She was preceded in death of her husband, Howard Richardson in 1999 and daughter, Donna Norcross of Roland, IA, in 2018.
She is survived by daughter, Shirley Moore, of Amarillo, TX and son, Brian Richardson and wife, Janet, of Story City, IA. Five grandchildren: Dr Tory Moore and wife Kaye, of Dumas, TX; Thea Russell and husband, Dr Dean Russell of Waynesville, NC; Christina Mathews and husband Kevin, of Sulphur Springs, TX.; Scott and Steven Richardson of Story City, IA. Also, ten great grandchildren and four great, great grandchildren left as a legacy. And one very old, immortal pet parrot, Polly, as well.
A memorial service will be held on April 27, 2019, at 10:00 am at First United Methodist Church in Story City, IA. Her ashes will be laid to rest at the Graceland Cemetery in Webster City, IA, next to her husband, Howard.
The family asks in lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the American Shetland Pony Club, Attn: Howard Richardson Memorial or the Donna Norcross Memorial, 81-B E Queenwood Rd, Morton, IL 61550.