Willie Richardson

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home in Temple, OK.

Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church in Temple, OK at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 with Rev. Kevin Simpson officiating. Interment will be in the Temple Cemetery under direction of Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home in Temple.

Willie Marie (Henson) Richardson was born to Cecil Haynes (Bus) and Iva (Lewis) Henson on October 5, 1934, in Healdton, OK and departed this life in Wichita Falls, TX on May 14, 2026, at the age of 91 years, 7 months, 9 days.

Willie grew up west of Healdton, OK in Wirt, OK. She attended Dundee School before moving to Temple in 1947 during the eighth grade. She loved her time at Temple High School and graduated from THS in 1952. She married Micheal Scott (Mike) Richardson on August 21, 1952, at the First Presbyterian Church in Temple. They made their home in Stillwater while Mike attended OSU. They later returned to Temple to raise their two children.

Willie was always working and always willing to help out wherever she was needed. She was part of the original team that founded the Temple Alumni Association and attended every celebration. She worked at Yieldings Dept. Store, Rancher’s Cafe, Richardson Ford Motor Company, Sears and Roebuck and the Temple Tribune. She was a telephone operator then a dental assistant and from 1963 to 1973 she worked at the First State Bank and the First National Bank. Willie accompanied Mike while he worked in South Texas then returned to Temple to work for Clyde McClenney. The couple then moved to Wichita Falls where she worked for three travel agencies from 1983 to 2000. After retiring she lived in Alabama until 2005. In 2006 she returned to Temple. She then lived in the Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home serving the families of Temple until she left due to her declining health in 2017. Willie lived with her son and daughter-in-law in Wichita Falls and they nursed her back to health, giving her nine more years to enjoy family and friends. Thanks to Sherry Parkey, Merlene Bean, Cathey Jarvis and so many others, she found her way between Wichita Falls and Temple for the last few years.

Willie was a people person, who never met a stranger. She enjoyed trips with Mike to his jobs and traveling in general. She was a member of several bowling leagues throughout the years, and she and the girls bowled in tournaments all across the country. Wahoo was the family choice of games, but she has also enjoyed Bingo, going to casinos and her time spent in the pool. Her kids and grandkids were her world, and she loved time with her friends, especially “going to coffee.” Willie was a longtime member of the Presbyterian Church, and also enjoyed attending First Baptist Church in Temple.

Willie was preceded in death by her parents, Bus and Iva Henson; her husband, Mike in 1995; and three sisters, Thelma Long, Cecil Witt and Janice Ellis.

Willie is survived by her daughter, Shelia Kay Clark of Mobile, AL: her son and daughter-in-law, Creech David Richardson and Robin of Wichita Falls, TX: granddaughter, Stephenie Ransonet of Mobile, AL: Grandsons, Victor Micheal Clark of Mobile, AL , John T. Clark of Mobile, AL, Chase D. Richardson and Kate of Wichita Falls, TX, Chance D. Richardson and Kayla of Holiday, TX, Colton D. Richardson and Becca of Wichita Falls, TX; great-grandchildren, Lyla, Ellie, Madisyn, Olivia, Drake, Bentley, Braidon, Jace, and Payton; her brother, Richard Henson and Pam of Walters, OK : many nieces, nephews, other relatives and lots of friends.

Memorial Donations can be made to MD Anderson Cancer, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX, 77210-4486