BOMBER MEMORIAL

RICHARD LEROY "RICK" SOUTHAM ~ Class of 1980
September 4, 1962 - December 24, 2015

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Rick was born on September 4, 1962, in Denver, Colorado. He was a handsome child with brilliant blue eyes, born to mother Carolyn Marie Carson and father Leroy James Southam. Rick moved to Richland by age 2, and lived in the Tri-Cities the remainder of his 53 years until his death from cardiac arrest on December 24, 2015, at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland.

Rick enjoyed playing team baseball as a young man until he discovered his love of outdoor sports. His early to teen years were spent learning how to fish and hunt from his father, and he remained an avid outdoorsman until health issues began to keep him from it. Rick also loved spending time camping, and for many years cherished the yearly camping trip he enjoyed with his family every Labor Day weekend at Ohanepecosh campground in Rainier National Forest. One of his favorite things to do was to go fishing on his Thunderjet boat around various fishing spots, catching Walleye, Perch, Crappie, Bluegill, Salmon and Bass.

After graduating from Richland's Columbia High School in 1980, he attended Columbia Basin College, seeking a degree in law enforcement, when an opportunity arrived for him to go to work at age 18 at UNC Nuclear Industries as a Heavy Duty Truck Driver at 100-N Area Maintenance. Because of Rick's easy going nature, he quickly became a union steward for Hanford truck drivers. He was very talented at bringing agreement between union craft employees and company management. His success in communications led him to become one of the youngest supervisors (in his early twenties) to ever hold a management position at 100-N Area Maintenance. He continued in management at 100-N and 100-K Basins until forced to go on Long Term Disability in 2003 due to complications of Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD).

After leaving on disability, not a day went by that he did not miss the people he worked with at Hanford, whom he called family. Rick was a fourth generation Hanford worker and liked by all who ever met him. One person Rick met when he began working at Hanford was his future wife, Karen Linne Sherman, who was the secretary for the manager over 100-N Maintenance. Rick took a shine to her and in true caveman-like fashion used to bring in samples of the meat from his latest game hunt - such as deer, elk, bear or cougar meat - in an attempt to woo her. But, alas, Karen was 4 years older than Rick and felt he was too young to date her then. They remained good friends until Rick was 26 years old, and their long time friendship developed into becoming the love of each other's lives. They were married in Richland in 1989 and their love for one another only grew stronger for the next 26 years until his death. Rick and Karen had the legendary kind of unconditional love for each other that people rarely find, and together they raised a son, Erik Douglas Southam.

Rick was loyal to those he called friend, and was well loved and respected by many. He was always quick to lend an ear or a helping hand to anyone facing a struggle or needing counsel. His love for others and quick wit were well received by those he came in contact with, and many of his employees felt he was the best boss they ever had. Rick's greatest calling was being a loving husband to wife Karen, father to son Erik, and grandfather to his grandchildren Kaleb and Taylor Southam. He loved his grandchildren with a passion, spending quality time with them doing fun activities and making them laugh.

His departure from this world on Christmas Eve has left a huge void, and he will be forever missed.

He was preceded in death by father, Leroy James Southam ('56); beloved grandparents, Lewis J. (Layell) Southam and Ray M. (Shirley) Carson; and his aunt Lillian Southam Rogers ('61).

Rick is survived by wife, Karen Linne Southam; son, Erik Douglas Southam; grandchildren: Kaleb Richard and Taylor Linne; mother, Carolyn Carson Renaud ('60); stepmother, Nancy Noel Southam; brother, Randal Ray (Lin) Southam ('82); and nephews: Joshua James Southam and James Stewart; uncles: Steve Carson ('58) and David Carson ('76); as well as many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.

There was a celebration of life for Rick at the Living Room Church in Kennewick on January 16, 2016, with a luncheon that followed. All those who knew and loved Rick were welcome to attend and share the good times Rick brought to those he came in contact with. Rick loved children, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to The Living Room Church for "ArtWorks", an after school program for kids.

Life Tributes Cremation Center was in charge of arrangements.

Published in the Tri-City Herald from January 3 to January 10, 2016.