On April 28, 2015 Richard Lyle Faris of Weston, Missouri, died at home with his wife and four of his six children by his side. He was 86 years old. Richard was born July 24th, 1928 in Topeka, Kansas, and was the firstborn son of Thomas Conway and Josephine Lyle Faris. He graduated from Kansas State University with a math and chemistry degree. After college he joined the Army and served as a 1st Lieutenant setting up anti-aircraft artillery on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan, during the Korean War. He met his wife, Virginia Louise Roark, in Rochester, Minnesota, where she completed her nursing degree. Richard and Virginia married May 27, 1951. Together they raised six children living a hard-working and productive life. From 1957-1965 Richard taught school and milked cows on the farm his father, Thomas Conway Faris, bought in 1952. In 1965, Richard and Virginia moved to Juneau, Alaska, making the trip in a van with their six children and all their worldly possessions. This adventure set an example and influenced the family into the current generation of his grandchildren. Richard believed in learning and education. He taught chemistry and math at West Platte High School, Platte City High School, and Juneau-Douglas High School in Juneau, Alaska. In1971, Mr. Faris stopped teaching and moved back to the family farm north of Weston, Missouri, and resumed a dairy operation. From a young age Richard loved opera and the ballet. His cows often sported names like Violetta and Carmen. He said cows remained calmer if classical music was played in the milking parlor. His herd of registered Holstein cows was the last dairy in Platte County. He sold the herd in 1994. He remained devoted to the farm and continued to mow weeds and maintain his tractors and fences up to his last days. Richard and Virginia traveled to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, China, Europe, Russia, Mexico, Peru and Nepal and had many immersion cultural experiences. Richard’s studies of the Russian language kept him engaged through his retirement. He traveled to Russia a total of thirteen times, and sponsored two Russian foreign exchange students. Richard helped one student, Irina Kobzeva-Pavlovic, obtain her college education in the United States, and immigrate following her graduation. Ira and her husband, Robert, and their daughter, Arianna, are part of the family to this day. In recent years, Richard was dedicated to caring for his wife, Virginia. They were married 64 years. Virginia’s comfort and continued nursing care were his primary concern. In March, Virginia was brought to their son Rick’s house on the farm to be cared for by family with help from Crossroads Hospice. This past month, Richard and his beloved dog, Sophie, walked to Rick’s house several times a day to visit Virginia. Survivors include his wife Virginia Louise Roark Faris; six children: Nancy Jo Faris King (husband Brian), Tamra Louise Faris, Ruth Anne Faris Hibarger (husband Walt), Thomas Alvan Faris (wife Mary), Linda Lee Faris Drake (husband Brad), and Richard William Faris; sixteen grandchildren: Angela Vincent, Sherril Mortensen, Destiny Gmelch, Alissa Smith, Ryan Taylor, Louise Taylor-Thomas, Rio Hibarger, Mariah Hibarger, Ivan Hibarger, Julie Hibarger, Krystal Faris, Kara Faris, Morgan Graham, Raleigh Graham, Hunter Faris, Chloe Faris; and ten great grandchildren: Kevin Vincent, Dalyn Vincent, Jordan Mortensen, Taylor Mortensen, Hayden Mortensen, Oliver Gmelch, Caroline Gmelch, Evelyn Gmelch, Matthew Smith, Henry Smith. A celebration of Richard's life will be held May 17th at 2:30 PM at the United Methodist Church at 533 Main Street, Weston, Missouri. A lunch will be provided in the Fellowship Hall in the basement of the church at 1 PM prior to the service. All are welcome. Richard’s remains will be interred at Riverview Cemetery in Arkansas City, Kansas. Memorial contributions: United Methodist Church of Weston, or Church of Resurrection of Overland Park, KS