Mary Richter

MARY RICHTER Mary LaRae Richter, 82, passed away peacefully at her home in Chico surrounded by her adoring family, friends and caregivers, on March 17, 2015, after a 17-year long, courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. Rae was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on July 17, 1932, to James and Mary Smith, at the height of the Great Depression. The oldest of four siblings, she was no stranger to tough times and hard work. The family moved around quite a bit, as her father searched for work. In high school Rae and her sister Margie got jobs behind a soda fountain at a drug store earning less than 50 cents an hour and gave their paychecks to their dad to help the family make ends meet. As was typical of her loving heart, she recalled even those challenging times fondly and with gratitude. She married Bernie Richter in 1953, just a few short years after they met in high school when he would come and sit on her desk during History class, no doubt with manure on the bottom of his shoes. Her sense of humor was key to the success of her marriage to Bernie, which lasted 46 years, until Bernie's death in 1999. She was the heart and soul of the family-owned businesses, Ray's Liquor in Paradise and Chico, Ray's Catering, and Ray's Video and Fun Center, managing the day-to-day operations and faithfully implementing all of Bernie's wild ideas. Her greatest joy in managing the businesses was her relationships with the people she worked with. She loved to cook and had a real knack for it. Her bolognese was legendary and most people felt they had never had a green salad until they had one of Rae's. After the businesses were sold she volunteered at Rosedale Elementary School, across the street from her home, when her Park-inson's was still in the early stages. She loved reading to the kids and got much joy out of her time with them. She often recalled with warmth and hearty laughter the time the little boy who was sitting on her lap reached up and touched her wrinkled neck and told her, "Your neck is old." She loved being a mother and grandmother. She never placed any expectations on her children or grandchildren to be anything other than themselves, and delighted in whatever path they chose. She had a unique gift with people. She easily and instinctively poured out unconditional love to everyone. Her family and friends learned from her, by the example of her life, the most important of life lessons: remain hopeful no matter the hardships or disappointments, see the good in people, and have a grateful and forgiving heart. She was adored by all who knew her. She is survived by her daughter Karen Callen, her husband, Peter Callen, and their children Andy, Daniel, Melanie and Brooke, and Melanie's husband, Roberts; her daughter Suzanne Reade and her husband David Reade, and their children Reagan and Matthew; her daughter Kathleen Makel, her husband Darby Makel, and their children Molly, James and Natalie; her sister and brother, Margie Fredrickson and Gary Smith; her sister-in-law Mary Galeana and her husband, Obdulio Galeana; her sister-in-law Gwin Richter; her cousin Marty Dahl and his wife, Marsha; and 12 nieces and nephews. A public memorial service will be held in the backyard of her home at 1628 Oak Park Avenue in Chico on Saturday, March 28, at 2 pm. Condolences may be sent online at www.BrusieFH.com.