Obituary: Stephen Richards

May 1, 1950 – August 30, 2025 
May 1, 1950 – August 30, 2025

Stephen Richards left us on the afternoon of August 30, 2025. He was surrounded by his family and finally at peace. Stephen loved playing golf above all things, doing his best to play year round, even if it meant driving to Moab or Green River for the day in the middle of winter. Some of his best friends were his golf buddies. He also enjoyed fishing, birdwatching, traveling, camping and growing a huge garden. He was proud of the fact that he grew enough produce to share some with the Community Market.
Stephen was born in San Antonio, TX to Mavis (Williams) and William Richards, and grew up there and on the Gulf Coast where he spent his time fishing and getting into trouble with his cousin and best friend Brad. He went to Texas Tech where he studied architecture, a profession he loved because he could make a living creating beautiful works of art. He got a job in Vail and moved his wife and son Dylan to Gypsum in 1980. Soon after, his second son Cassidy was born. After working in Vail for a few years, he opened his own business in Eagle. He also moved his family to Eagle. He designed hundreds of homes and a number of commercial buildings throughout the Eagle Valley. In 1991 he married Julie, and soon added daughter April to his family.
When Eagle Ranch Golf Course opened, Stephen was in heaven. Eventually, after he had been retired from architecture for a few years, he started working at the golf course, where he enjoyed talking to and helping other golfers. Stephen believed in being involved in his community, and so spent 8 years on the Eagle Town Council, and several years on the Eagle Planning and Zoning Commission. He also valued his work as an Eagle County election judge through many elections. Everywhere Stephen worked or played he made lifelong friends.
Stephen has gone to join his parents and his cousin Brad. He leaves behind his wife Julie Richards, his children Dylan and Cassidy (Racheal) Richards and April (Stephanie) Aensland, granddaughters Reygan and Kaylie Perse, along with his sister Dorothy (Jimmy) Colbert, niece Elizabeth Colbert, nephew Brad (Amy) Colbert, mother-in-law Sue Medsker and sister-in-law Jodeen (Robert) Stephenson. He also leaves behind a huge community of friends, and his dogs Cami and Roxy.
There will be a celebration of Stephen’s life on September 29 at the Eagle River Brewing Company in Gypsum. The party will start at 4:30 and go until 7, and his family invites people who knew Stephen to come share stories, memories, and friendship.
Donations in Stephen’s memory can be made to the Vail Valley Foundation Funds to Benefit Shaw at Home (P.O. Box 1529, Vail, CO 81658), or Walking Mountains (ATTN: Development PO Box 9469 Avon, CO 81620).
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