Ricky Hall

There comes a time in a man's life when he realizes the important things. For Ricky Hall, living by faith and holding those he loved was above all the most precious of life's gifts. He enjoyed the outdoors, and throughout his life worked and took in all that God's country had to offer. From the rich soils that produced multitudes of crops to the game he so enjoyed hunting, Ricky felt at peace in the surroundings he grew to love and appreciate.

Ricky's story began during the era of the 1950s when many were striving to live the American dream. Minimum wage was at an all time high at $1.00 per hour, and the space age was off and running with the first U.S. satellite being launched into space. Young radio listeners everywhere were tuned to Elvis and the Everly Brothers, while American households turned the dials to their television sets to Leave It To Beaver and Gunsmoke. In Allegan, Michigan, McCurdy and Thelma (Patrick) Hall were experiencing exciting times of their own when on February 28, 1958 they welcomed their last and final child into their hearts, a son whom they named Ricky.

The youngest of 16 children in the Hall's bustling household, his father was a farmer while his mother looked after their household and the children. Having lived in the Allegan county area his entire life, Ricky was raised in their family farmhouse in Plainwell where he grew up alongside many of his siblings. Faith played a vital role in his upbringing which he carried close to his heart his whole life through.

No stranger to hard work, from an early age he had daily farm chores and everyone was expected to do their part. Throughout most of his childhood and into his youth, Ricky shared great adventures with friends, went to school, and helped out on the farm. In school he played baseball for a time, and softball in his later years. He attended Plainwell schools until the tenth grade before working the farm on a fulltime basis.

Ricky's heart of gold was clearly evident even in his younger years. Always willing to lend hand, he liked being helpful and strived to assist others whenever he could. One day, while visiting a resident at one of the local nursing homes, his attention was drawn to a young lady who worked there named Laurie. They really hit it off and soon began a dating relationship. In time their romance turned to deep, abiding love, and on January 27, 1983, they were joined in marriage as husband and wife, just prior to his 25th birthday.

Together Ricky and Laurie made their home in Plainwell where Ricky made his living working as a timber scout for loggers. They were exceptionally blessed when they began a family of their own, welcoming the birth of their daughter, Mary into their lives. Shirley completed their happy family. Christopher Harvey was Rick's first son. No matter the circumstances, Ricky always placed the needs of his family before anything else. When grandchildren came along, he was in his glory. He loved them deeply, along with his beloved nieces and nephews whom he treasured and often teased relentlessly over the years.

All the family and those who knew him learned to take it in stride, and his family knew full well the love he held in his heart for them. It was simply one of the many things that made Ricky so likable and lovable. He was a friendly sort with a great sense of humor who could strike up a conversation with nearly anyone. As always, he would help anyone he could with his good hearted nature.

Ricky loved hunting and fishing. He especially loved ice fishing and thoroughly enjoyed it at every opportunity. A big hunter, he was never without his wonderful coon hunting dogs and beagles. The outdoors was second nature to Ricky. There he felt the warmth of God's love and it seemed as if his already deep faith was renewed whenever he spent any length of time taking it all in. He attended Wayland Free Methodist Church, in Wayland while growing up.

While in his 30s, Ricky's heart and lungs became enlarged. He was eventually diagnosed with COPD, which would become more and more debilitating. The COPD, along with his asthma, gave him no choice but to give up work. It was a very difficult realization for Ricky, but with the strength of his faith he was able to spend most of the following years enjoying the family he loved and the simple joys in life. Over time, the disease worsened until such time Ricky's quality of life was compromised. Sadly, at the age of 54, Ricky passed away on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. Lovingly remembered, he will be dearly missed.

Ricky’s family includes his wife of 29 years, Laurie; his children: Christopher Harvey, John Fry was like a son, Mary Hall and Shirley Hall; grandchildren: Darryl, Ocean, and Aiden; siblings: Deanna (Wayne) Preston of Comstock Park, Shirley Shue of Wayland, Carolyn Boss, Patsy Wuis, Jerry (Nancy) Hall, Cheryl (Tom) Ball, all of Plainwell, Brenda Workman of Allegan, Glenda (Larry) Hodgeman of Otsego, and Jack Patrick of Plainwell; many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, McCurdy and Thelma; siblings: Donna Bitz, Fred Hall, Sharon Owens and Pamela Hall.

Visit with his family and friends on Friday, March 9, 2012 from 4-7 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell; 120 Woodhams St. (685-5881) where his funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at the same location. Please visit Ricky’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a favorite memory and photo with his family and sign his online memory book before coming to funeral home. Memorial donations can be made to Friendship Wesleyan Church or Christian Neighbors.