Stephen Lloyd Richey

Stephen Lloyd Richey, son of Homer Prather Richey and Ethel Zena Lloyd, passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife and children Saturday, May 10, 2025. Stephen was born April 19, 1945, and had recently celebrated his 80th birthday.

Stephen was the third child of ten children and thrived growing up in a large family where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was central to their upbringing. The family moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where Stephen met his best childhood friend, David Weber. While in Oregon, Stephen joined the wrestling team and enjoyed many years of Scouting. After moving back to Utah, Stephen graduated from Ogden High School in 1963 and began his studies at Weber State College.

Stephen served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he was assigned to labor in the Southern Far East. He labored diligently and worked hard to learn the Cantonese language. Stephen was blessed to serve as Assistant to the Mission President as well as Hong Kong District President. He experienced remarkable success and loved serving the Lord and the people of Hong Kong, developing many lifelong friends.

Upon returning home from his mission in 1966, Stephen met the love of his life, Georgia Afton Ricks of Centerville, Utah. Stephen and Georgia attended Weber State College and LDS Institute together. They were engaged, married, and sealed in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple in 1967.

In the summer of 1969, he graduated as the Outstanding Graduate from the School of Management earning his degree in Business Administration.

Stephen enrolled in the U.S. Air Force in 1969 and completed basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The remainder of his military service was completed at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa Florida. While in Tampa, Stephen enrolled in the Graduate program of the University of South Florida where he completed his MBA. He began working for Arthur Anderson and Co. where he trained to be a systems analyst.

In 1974, the family moved back to Utah where Stephen began a successful career with New York Life Insurance Company. He continued his education and earned his CLU® and ChFC® designations. He served as President of the Ogden Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors as well as President of the Utah Association. Stephen was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by NAIFA® Utah and the Society of Financial Services Professionals in 2011. After 34 years, Stephen retired from New York Life. He later worked for Justice Works LLC, a national firm owned and operated by his two oldest sons.

Stephen lived a life filled with service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many callings including Elder’s Quorum President, High Counselor, and Bishop, among many others. He was recently released from serving as Secretary of the Elder’s Quorum in his home ward in Layton. He served a second LDS mission later in life with his wife, Georgia, and his daughter, Angela, in the Utah Ogden Mission. Stephen was a member of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, where he served as President of the Ogden Pioneer Chapter. He valued his associations with many friends over the years.

Stephen built a mountain home where he and his family loved spending time exploring, hiking, hunting, and being together. The cabin was a place to rest and unwind and many wonderful memories were created there. Stephen enjoyed teaching his boys framing, plumbing, electrical, and finish carpentry. They spent many days together nailing up tongue and groove cedar, pine, and redwood. The family continues to enjoy gathering at the cabin.

The family home, built in 1983, was a massive undertaking at the time. Stephen and Georgia dreamed of building a home in a safe neighborhood, which would accommodate a large family and be located near the church. Stephen was an excellent provider. He grew a large garden, fruit trees, and maintained his yard where his family enjoyed many of life’s richest blessings. He studied and learned how to care for honeybees and his yard benefited greatly from the hive he maintained. Stephen worked hard at developing his hobby as a woodworker and became very accomplished, building beautiful hardwood furniture for the family home as well as sharing his talents with family, neighbors, and friends.

Of all Stephen’s accomplishments, his greatest was his marriage to his eternal spouse, his children, grandchildren, and growing posterity. He truly loved them all and wrote weekly letters of encouragement and support. He embraced Harold B. Lee’s quote that “The most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home”.

Stephen is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Georgia; his children, Natalie Packer (Dale), Carl (Sarah), Keith (Maureen), Craig (Lorianne), Kenneth (Shanda), Benjamin (Marisa), and Angela. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Joanne Davis (Garrett); parents; and brother, David. He absolutely adored his 30 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren and was anxiously awaiting four more greats to join the family.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at the Weber Heights Stake Center, 1401 Country Hills Drive, Ogden, Utah. Friends may visit the family on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd., and on Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Stake Center. Interment will take place in the Ogden City Cemetery, 1875 Monroe Blvd., Ogden, Utah.

The Richey Family would like to thank Stephen’s many doctors and caregivers for their professional and compassionate service.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the John A. Moran Eye Center.

Services will be live-streamed and available the day of the services by scrolling to the bottom of Stephen’s obituary page at: www.lindquistmortuary.com where condolences may also be shared.