The adored husband, father, grandfather, cattlemen, friend and true innovator, Gene Ritchey, passed away Aug. 17, at the age of 86.
He was born in Brighton, Oct. 3, 1928, to Phinace and Clara (Heitman) Ritchey. He married Naomi Jo Heneger April 3, 1960, in Brighton. They raised three children. Gene grew up in Brighton and attended Independence School and graduated from Brighton High School in 1947 and went on to attend Colorado A&M.
After attending college, Gene served in the Air National Guard from 1949-1952 and, like his personality dictated, he bravely volunteered to walk “ground zero” of Yucca Flats, Ariz., for the testing of an A-bomb detonation in the sky above him. After serving our country, Gene returned home and worked on the family dairy.
In 1964 Gene invented the Ritchey Cattle Ear Tag, one of the first tags that made it possible for individual livestock identification. That same year, Gene and his wife founded Ritchey Livestock ID and continued to develop innovative products that lead the industry still today. Gene stayed active in the family business his entire life.
Over the years, the agricultural industry recognized Gene’s pioneering spirit and honored him with numerous awards and accolades. In 1989, Beef Magazine honored him as one of 25 people ‘Who Made a Difference’ in the cattle industry. Another 25 years later, Beef Magazine honored Gene again in its 50th anniversary issue as a continued industry leader. In 1996, the Colorado FFA Foundation inducted Gene into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame, acknowledging his outstanding contribution to Colorado agriculture. Later, Gene was inducted into Show Times Jr. Livestock Magazine’s Hall of Fame. To be inducted, individuals must achieve something great, and Gene was regarded for continued technological advances in livestock identification.
Gene loved to invent things and had ideas on how to improve everything. He enjoyed turkey shoots and going fishing and never refused a good piece of pie. He loved to spend quality time with his family and truly appreciated life’s many blessings. His spirit, generosity, kindness and aspiration to make everything he touched better, inspired everyone he came in contact with. His grandkids will surely miss his legendary pancakes and homemade caramel syrup, and the world will miss his smile. But his legacy will rightly live on forever.
He’s off to greener pastures, reuniting with his beloved wife. Gene is survived by sons, Grant (Dawn) Ritchey, of Hudson, and Craig (Cate) Ritchey, of Brighton; a daughter, Becci (Todd) Scott, of Fort Pierre, S.D.; a sister, Karen (Tim) Caldwell, of Tulsa, Okla.; grandchildren, Cole, Lacy Jo, Ryanne, Reagan, Cameron, Chandler, Devyn, Brittani (and her husband, Shawn), Austin, Ali, Michael, Nickolas, Cedar, Stran and Tatum; and three great-grandchildren.
Gene was preceded in death by his loving wife; parents, Phinace and Clara Ritchey; brothers, Ralph and Clinton; and sister, Sharon.
‘Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.’ -Edward Kennedy June 8, 1968.
Visitation was Aug. 26, followed by a 1 p.m. funeral service. Both were at Harvest Fellowship Church. Interment follows at Elmwood Cemetery.
Tabor-Rice Funeral Home handled the arrangements.