Richard Edmond O'Connell, III, of Crocker, was born on August 2, 1945, at Lebanon, a son of Richard Edmond O'Connell, II and Ethel Odena Freeman, and departed this life at 4:40 p.m., Monday, September 29, 2014, in the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, Fort Leonard Wood. Richard had attained the age of 69 years, 1 month, and 27 days.

Richard was united in marriage on May 20, 1978, at Lebanon, to Janet Coleen Askew, and to this union, four children were born. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Richard was a member of the Crocker Christian Church and a United States Army veteran. He was a member of the Military Comptrollers and the American Legion, Crocker. He was a Crocker School Board Member for twenty-five years and past president and was on the Supervisory Committee of the Mid Missouri Credit Union.
Richard had worked at Fort Leonard Wood for thirty-five years as an auditor. He enjoyed collecting angels, coins, bottles and rocks.


Those left to mourn the passing of Richard include: his wife, Janet O'Connell, Crocker; one son and daughter-in-law, Timothy Aaron and Kristen O'Connell, Springfield; three daughters and one son-in-law, Sarah O'Connell, St. Louis, Rachel Rebecca O'Connell, Springfield and Hannah Ruth and James Garrison, Springfield; three grandchildren, Claire Williams, Gage Garrison and Kendall O'Connell; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held for Richard at 1:00 P.M., Friday, October 3, 2014, in the Crocker Christian Church, with Larry Richardson officiating.

Interment with full military honors was in the Crocker Cemetery under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Crocker. Pallbearers for Richard were Timothy O'Connell, Bernard Houlehan, James Garrison, Eric Harmon, Greg Smith and Eddie Bowling. Honorary pallbearer was Gage Garrison.

Memorials are suggested by the family to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research with envelopes available at the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Crocker.