Richard Eli Craven, 84, of Columbia, Mo., died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Aug. 5, 2024, at Southampton Place, from complications of Parkinson’s. 

Born on Oct. 12, 1939, to the late Eli Eric Craven and Vivien Throgmorton Craven, in Du Quoin, Ill., he moved with his family to Columbia, Mo., when he was five. He attended Grant Elementary School and Jefferson Junior High School and graduated from Hickman High School in 1957. Richard was a 1961 public and business administration graduate of the University of Missouri (MU). In 1966, after graduating from the MU School of Law, Richard and his first wife, the late Holly Manning Craven, moved to her hometown, Saginaw, Mich., where he worked for General Motors. In 1970, with two partners, he opened a private law practice in Midland, Mich., followed by a solo practice from 1977 to 2001. With plans to retire in his hometown, Richard closed his practice and moved back to Columbia in 2001, where he worked for another seven years for the State of Missouri Department of Labor. 

Richard was a member and leader of civic and legal organizations at the state and local level, including Midland’s Elks Club, Optimist Club, Midland County Bar Association, Board of Trustees of the Memorial Presbyterian Church, and many others, and he took pride in having helped thousands of regular people through their legal issues.

He was most proud of his children, Dr. Catherine Kershaw Craven (Chris Topinka), of Columbia, Mo., Richard Manning Craven (Jennifer) of Heartland, Wis., and Dr. Edward Eric Craven (Dr. Molly) of Traverse City, Mich., whom he loved dearly. In earlier years, he enjoyed motorcycle riding, archery, deer hunting with friends, family camping trips, many years of watching his children skate and play hockey, and sailing on Lake Michigan with family at their northern Michigan cottage. 

To his great joy, after moving back to Columbia, he became reacquainted with the daughter of one of his mother’s good friends from Calvary Baptist Church. On July 4, 2006, she did him the honor of becoming his wife, Ruthie Woods Craven, whom he always called my pretty girl, my sweetheart. In this happy chapter, Richard enjoyed woodworking, yard work, and with Ruthie going out to dinner, taking weekend trips, visiting their classmates, spending time with their large combined family, and being parents to their many cats, most recently Trumpy, Amos, and Theo, who miss their daddy terribly.

Richard is predeceased by his parents, sister Ann Craven Kemp and brother-in-law Paul Kemp, nephew Brian Kemp (survived by Diana Baker), sister-in-law Margie McDaniel Woods, his first wife and her sister Patricia “Honey Pat” Fair Manning Perea.

He is survived by his beloved wife, children, stepsons Jay Pridgeon (Kelly), Centralia, Mo., Troy Pridgeon (Rhonda), Olathe, Kan., and Dr. Sean Pridgeon (Amia) Fayette, Mo., brother-in-law Dr. Robert Gail Woods, Columbia, Mo., sister Nancy Craven McDonald (Dr. Herb), Joplin, Mo., brother-in-law Dr. Manuel M. Perea, nieces Heather Perea Beering (John), Julie Perea, and Barbara Kemp Reeder, nephews Dr. Rick, Chris, Duke (Kelly), and Hugh McDonald, grandchildren Holly, Adam, and Abigail Craven, Alex and Natalie Craven, Kelita Pridgeon Schaal (Jacob) and Katrina Pridgeon, Jessie and Joella Melegrito, Austin, Cullen, Audrey, and Bennett Pridgeon, cousins Kathy, Dennis, and Emma West, three great-grandchildren, nine great-nieces and nephews, four great-great nieces and a nephew, and a menagerie of grand-dogs and grand- cats. 

Richard’s family and friends gathered starting at 1 p.m. in the parlor, with his memorial service to follow on Friday, Aug. 9, at Missouri United Methodist Church, 204 S. Ninth St. Columbia, Mo.

Suggested donations in Richard’s memory include the Central Missouri Humane Society and the Parkinson’s Foundation.