Elizabeth "Ann" Richie, born June 14, 1941, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on April 8, 2026, leaving behind a legacy rooted in faith, love, and family.

Her life was a testament to the quiet strength of a woman who built a life and home where everyone felt safe, welcomed and deeply loved. Ann graduated from Madisonville High School and continued her education at business school. While there, she was personally recruited by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) to work at their downtown Houston office.Her love of family would eventually bring her back home to work at various jobs, including TDC - Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville during the infamous Carrasco hostage siege, the 7-J Ranch, and P Standley Motor Company. Later, she opened a craft shop with her neighbor and special friend, Linda Hunter. The two of them enjoyed their time as business partners, next door neighbors, and close friends. Ann not only ran a business, she was also an incredible and involved mother to her daughter, Jill, and son, Jason. She never missed a beat, from Sunday school, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and all the sports in between - Ann truly was "Wonder Woman" to her children.

In 1983, Ann met and married her beloved husband, Willie "Kenneth" Richie. With her faith and deep love of family, she was able to blend the two families into one and that family has grown through the years. Ann and Kenneth ran multiple businesses together. The two shared a deep love for travel, whether for her antique store, or his horse shows, and many mission trips with First Baptist Church, they served with the love of Christ. Mission trips to other countries included Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Israel, Africa, Mexico and Paris. Their travels extended to family and friends which led to them visiting every state, with the exception of two or three, with their favorites being Alaska and Hawaii.

When Ann was asked to head up the WOM - Women on Mission at First Baptist Church, she recruited her childhood friend, Voyce Park, to help out. The two had such fun working and serving together. In the beginning, there were usually six or seven ladies in attendance at WOM. Ann was instrumental in the program growing to over one hundred ladies. She had one meeting with a special guest speaker and her goal was to have three hundred ladies attend. They ended up with three hundred and one. Ann always had faith the size of a mustard seed. She believed, "If you build it, they will come" ... and come they did. She knew God would provide and He always showed up. Through it all, Ann will be remembered for her unwavering, faith, love, and devotion to her family, especially her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. Ann's life reminds us that the truest legacy is not found in things, but in the love we give, the work we do for those we cherish, and the memories we leave behind.

Though her passing leaves a space that cannot be filled, the life she built continues in the family she raised and the traditions she created. Her legacy lives on in the laughter around family tables, in the stories still told and in the love that binds her family together.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin Homer Walton and Edith Viola (Cannon) Walton; her brothers, Vernon Lee Walton and Jim Wayne Walton; granddaughter, Jennalyn "Jenna" Yeager; nephew, Craig Walton; husband Kenneth's son, Larry Richie; and grandson, Steven Richie. Ann is survived by her loving husband, Kenneth Richie; her children, Jill Yeager Fite (Mickey) and Jason Yeager (Jillyn); grandchildren, Justin Fite (Dena), Marcus Fite (Sarah), Lauran Fite McAdams (Ryan), Matthew Yeager, Tyler Yeager (Jesse), and Jake Yeager (Rylee); great-grandchildren, Chloe and Dakota Fite, Josey McAdams, Ellijah and Jeremian Yeager, and Waylon Yeager. Ann is also survived by her husband Kenneth's children, Nancy Earp (Rick), Gary Richie (Mae), and Paul Richie (Jana); grandchildren, Stephanie Britt (Brian), Connie Swinney (Levi), Danny Richie (Karla), Michael Richie (Christine), and Larra Walker (Marcus); great-grandchildren, Mattie, Ryder and Audrie Britt, Mia and Jules Swinney, Harper Richie, and Maecyn, Morgan, Jaxson and Jett Hemphill.

A funeral service for Elizabeth "Ann" Richie will be held 11 A.M., Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at First Baptist Church in Madisonville. Pastor Brad Brock will officiate the service. Interment will follow in High Prairie Cemetery, Madisonville, Texas. Visitation will be from 10 A.M. until service time. 

In lieu of flowers, the Richie family kindly requests that donations be made to First Baptist Church in memory of Ann. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 159, Madisonville, Texas 77864, or made online at Give Now.

Pallbearers: Justin Fite, Marcus Fite, Ryan McAdams, Matthew Yeager, Tyler Yeager, Jake Yeager

Honorary Pallbearers: Danny Richie, Michael Richie, Brian Britt, Levi Swinney, Marcus Walker, Jim McKenzie, Charles Park, Bob Dodson, Jack Hunter

Arrangements are under the direction of Madisonville Funeral Home, Madisonville, Texas -- A Walters Family Funeral Home