Thomas Duane Richards, 81, of Browning passed away at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020, at Heritage Health in Mt. Sterling.
    He was born May 13, 1939, in Chandlerville, the son of Thomas and Nancy (Bauser) Richards. He married Shirley Jean Shaw Danner Aug. 2, 1990, in Hannibal, MO.
    Surviving are his wife, Shirley Jean Richards of Mt. Sterling; three daughters, Pam (and Kent) Hoots of Quincy, Linda (and Bryan) Johnson of Jacksonville, Jody (and Eric) Moore of Beardstown; a son, Doug (and Diane Meyer) Richards of Mt. Olive, North Carolina; 12 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; a step-daughter, Debbie Pherigo of Browning; three step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; three step-great-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Alfred (and Janet) Richards of Beardstown.
    He was preceded in death by two sons, Michael and Marty Richards; a step-son Gene Danner; one brother, Ronald Lee Richards; and two sisters, Alice Bettis and Geneva Taylor.
    Duane worked in the sanitation department at Oscar Mayer in Beardstown and later in the livestock division for Excel in Beardstown, retiring in September of 2004. He also farmed.
    Duane and Shirley enjoyed wintering in Dauphin Island, Alabama, and camping at Mark Twain Lake in Missouri. He enjoyed raising horses and his pug dogs, Rambo and Neal. Duane enjoyed boating, water skiing, fishing, country music and dancing.
     Private family services will be held with Pastor Matthew Thiner officiating with burial in Astoria Cemetery.
    Memorials may be made to the Browning Senior Center or the Browning Fire Department and may be sent to the Shawgo Memorial Home at P.O. Box 525, Astoria, IL  61501.
    Online condolences may be left at www.shawgomemorialhome.org.