Richard Pulliam was born November 8, 1935 in Osawatomie, Kansas, to Robert and Gladys Pulliam, the youngest of two boys. He attended school in Osawatomie and graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1953.
He worked at Hallmark Cards at Kansas City in the photography department for two years, then worked eight years in retail sales and management with his brother Robert in Lawrence, Kansas.
While in Lawrence, Richard spent six years in the active Army Reserve. He then opened and managed two burger bars in Kansas City. Then went to work for Sewell Paint Company in Kansas City selling paint to contractors. He then went to work in the marketing department for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas as a Sales/Service Representative.
While working at BC/BS, Richard met the love of his life, Mary Scheer. They were married July 3, 1970. In 1976 Mary and Richard moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, where Richard took over the St. Joseph BC/BS office. After four years with BC/BS in St. Joseph, Richard left BC/BS and obtained a real estate brokerage licensee and sold real estate for Richardson Reality and then Century 21 Reality.
Mary and Richard spent many weekends and vacations on Lake Table Rock and Lake Stockton. But they enjoyed the trips and time spent with Mary's family in Nebraska most of all.
While they were not blessed with any children, they did share their home with a series of dogs. Fritz, Misty, Koko, Pepper, and the last, Eddie.
Mary passed away June 14,2014, after fighting esophageal cancer for 4 years. Mary never lost her smile, never complained. While Mary was going through the strain of the chemo therapy, Richard (born and raised a Southern Baptist) started taking Mary to church. After going through the RICA course Richard was Confirmed in the Catholic Church April 7, 2012.
After a funeral Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Mary was interned at St Mary's cemetery at Tilden, Nebraska, among her parents, and many cousins, aunts and uncles. Richard and Eddie continued to live at the home in St Joseph.
Richard is survived by nieces, Cammie Braden and Lisa Pulliam, both of Lawrence, Kansas.
Natural Farewell under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.
