Obituary of Richard Nelson Moorhouse

In the quaint town of West Branch, Michigan, Richard turned the final page of his earthbound journey surrounded by the love of his family and long time partner, Donna Thume. Richard is preceded in death by his parents John (Jack) and Viola Moorhouse, sister Brenda Bateson, niece Kala, nephew Chad, nephew Martin and sister in-law Janet. With a lineage as robust as the homes he built, he leaves behind a legacy through his brother Ron and Sherry, brother Kenneth and Kathy, brother Eddie, sister Nancy and Harvey Morley, sister JoAnn Pitman, sister Millie and Ken Kennison, sister Mona and Mike Wolfgang, and sister Peggy. His life was further enriched and the chapters of his story continued with his children, son Steven and his wife Kim Lawson, daughter Jeanne Lawson, daughter Hope and her husband Samuel Thomley, son R.J. (Richard) and wife Krystle Moorhouse, son Cody Shimmons along with a bevy of grandchildren: Chenoa, Faith, David, Samantha, and Kylie, all of whom filled his days with boundless energy and laughter. 

A craftsman by trade and a jester at heart, Richard's hands were rarely still as he moved from framing houses to perfecting automobiles and finishing concrete. His work was his canvas, and his joy was in the creation, yet his true masterpiece was the time he spent with his grandchildren. A man who lived by the credo, "no one is going to spank grandpa," Richard was the ringleader of fun, the chief engineer of childhood capers, and the patriarch of playful mischief.

When the tools were down, and the laughter from the latest grandchild escapade subsided, Richard's soulful melodies could be heard as he reveled in the twang and tales of old-school country music. Each autumn, he answered the call of the wild, a hunter in the crisp Michigan air, and every fishing season saw him by the bank, reeling in the catch of the day and a string of stories to match.

Describing Richard is as easy as recalling his ever-present grin - funny, adventurous, handy. These words are not just an epitaph but a living testament to a man who embraced life's comedy to the fullest. As Robin Williams once said, "You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." Richard not only kept his spark but used it to light up the world around him. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com