Richard Thomas Lansdon, 19, of Payette, Idaho, and formerly of Baker City, died May 28, 2005, as the result of a vehicle accident on Anthony Lakes Highway.
A traditional funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Baker City Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane.
Following the service, friends and family will gather near the Baker County Library, 2400 Resort St., where Richard will be taken in a horse-drawn hearse around Geiser Pollman Park with family and friends walking behind in tribute of all the fond memories he leaves behind. At the conclusion of the walk, there will be a procession to Payette where Richard will be laid to rest at the Riverside Cemetery.
In addition, a “Window of Reflection” for Richard will be on display Friday at 1719 Main St. in Baker City, next to Elkhorn Title Company.
Richard was born Dec. 27, 1985, in Sacramento, Calif. He was raised and educated in Baker City and Payette, Idaho. Richard attended the Baker Nazarene Church and the Salvation Army Church and Youth Center.
He enjoyed being involved in sports, especially baseball. Richard was an avid archery hunter. In 1997 and 1998 he won first place at a National Shoot in Redding, Calif. He received recognition at that time that he qualified for the world championship, which was being held in New York City. Although he didn’t attend, he was proud that he had placed that well.
Richard experienced a lot of ups and downs during the short time that he was here on earth. He tried very hard to embrace being an adult. Richard never met a stranger and he made friends easily.
Two years ago, he met the love of his life, Sasha Thompson. There was not a day that went by that he did not express how much he loved her.
Richard just this last month had received his drivers license, had gone to work in La Grande for Nash Trailers and purchased a car. He was proud that he had a “man’s job.” He was excited about his life and where he was going.
Richard dearly loved his family and never missed an opportunity to tell or show them.
Richard is survived by his parents, Ronald and Grace Lansdon, former Baker City residents and now of Payette, Idaho; sisters, Jill Sprinkle and her husband, Brian, and Anna Curtis and her husband, Jason; brothers, Scott Lansdon, James Lansdon and John Lansdon; nieces, Shataeu Lansdon, Malibu Sprinkle and Alexa Curtis; nephews, Dalton Curtis and Harley Letts Jr.; fiancee’ Sasha Thompson; aunts and uncles, Ben and Dorothy Likens, Harley and Hopie Letts, Hermes Brown and Chuck Seeley and cousins, Ben Likens Jr. and Hogan Letts.
Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in memory of Richard may do so to Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834 to help defray the cost of funeral service.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 3, 2005
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor