Anita Rickard

Anita Joyce Essary Rickard, 73, passed away September 27, 2021 at Methodist Mansfield Hospital in Mansfield, Texas. Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 7:00pm at Lucas & Blessing Funeral Home, 518 SW Johnson Ave, in Burleson. Funeral services will be held at 10:00am, Saturday, October 2, 2021 at Lucas & Blessing Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Laurel Land Cemetery in Ft. Worth. Click here for a live stream: https://video.ibm.com/channel/23855904/video/4qcrux
Anita Joyce Essary Rickard was born November, 25, 1947 in Quanah, Texas to Bud and Anita (Owens) Essary. She grew up in Fort Worth and attended Trimble Tech High School. After high school she began work for Buddies Grocery as a cashier and learned to be a butcher. She also worked as butcher at Junior's Meat Market in Cleburne and Haley's Meats in Crowley. She was involved in Crowley PTA, Texas Municipal Police Wives Association, Crowley Chamber of Commerce, House of Hope, and Cal-Tex Riders Association.
Joyce married Charles "Rick" in 1977 in Crowley, and they were happily married for 44 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Kopperl. She enjoyed cooking, spending time with family, volunteering in the community, traveling on the motorcycle with Charles all across the USA including Canada and Alaska, working crossword puzzles, feeding the birds, and spoiling her grandkids, nieces and nephews. She also received lifetime member of PTA and Crowley Chamber of Commerce's Volunteer of the Year. Her proudest achievement was being called Neena.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bud and Anita Essary; sister, Karen Pinkerton; niece, Monda Schoonover; nephew, Dustin Essary; and great-nephew, Joshua Schoonover.
Joyce is survived by her husband, Charles of Crowley; son, David Hoggard and wife, Candace of Kopperl; daughters, Hope Powell and husband, Bill and Beth Trotter and husband, David Trotter of Birch Tree, Missouri; brother, James Essary and wife, Sandy of Burleson; grandchildren, Katy & Phil Utz, Clint & Lindsey Hoggard, Krystal Greer, and Meaghan Trotter; great-grandchildren, Skylar Leonard, Reagan Doggett, Khloe Trotter, and Levi Utz; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Joyce has left a lasting imprint on each of our lives and thank you for coming today to honor her. As we step into a time when her hugs, smiles, and advice are now memories, take comfort in John 14:1-6. Heaven is her final home and she will be waiting to help welcome us one day as well.