DAVID DEAN RICHEY, 70, of Cookeville, TN, passed
away on June 1, 2014, at his home surrounded by the
love of his family.
He was born on Sept. 24, 1943, in San Diego, CA to
the late Dr. Claude H. Richey and Melba Barnes and
raised by his late grandparents David & Bethel Morgan.
He graduated from Ranger High School in Ranger, TX in
1961 and earned a B.A. from the University of North
Texas in 1965. In 1966, he received his M.A. from
Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. He received
a Ph.D. in 1974 from the University of North Carolina-
Chapel Hill. He had many professional roles at TTU,
including Professor, Associate Dean and Interim Dean
of the College of Education. He worked tirelessly for
the care and well-being of young children with special
needs and their families, specifically in his pivotal
role in the establishment of Tennessee’s Early Inter-
vention System in the Upper Cumberland and additional
work with projects involving children & their families.
Dr. Richey was a devoted husband, father, grandfather,
a compassionate advocate for families and children,
and a mentor to countless students and colleagues at
Tennessee Technological University. He was a scholar
and teacher, a prolific gardener, and an active grand-
father to his grandchildren, Noor, Lena, and Kaja. His
legendary tomato plants and fruit trees were lovingly
planted, tended, and harvested with the same careful
expertise he used in all areas of his life. He was
known as a “wordsmith” with a brilliant sense of humor
as well as a lifelong athlete (in baseball, football
and, especially, basketball). He was greatly loved and
cherished—and will be greatly missed.
At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife
of 47 years Dr. Linda Hall Richey; daughter and son-in-
law, Dr. Amanda Richey and Hicham Mouyane of Kennesaw,
GA; sons and daughter-in-law, Patrick and Amy Richey
of Redondo Beach, CA, Adam Richey of Cookeville, Deacon
Gervan Menezes of Nashville; three sisters, Mary Haynes
of Lingleville, TX, Patricia Higgins of Pont Vedra Beach,
FL., Laura Richey of Austin, TX; three brothers, Michael
Higgins of Gatesville, TX, Claude Richey Jr. of Houston,
TX, William Richey of Reston, VA; three grandchildren,
Noor Mouyane, Lena Mouyane, Kaja Richey, and special
sister-in-law, Patti Martin; many wonderful nieces,
nephews, brothers- & sisters-in-law and friends.