Richard “Dick” Dale LeMasters, of Kansas City, formerly of Middletown, died Monday, May 29, 2023, at Brookdale College Square in Overland Park, Kan. He was 89 years old.
A graveside service and celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Dick was born in rural Middletown in 1934, a son of Garnet and Nattie (Hirsch) LeMasters. He was a 1953 graduate of Wellsville-Middletown R-1 High School. Following high school, he served two years in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany.
On August 27, 1960, he married the love of his life, Catherine “Kate” May, at the Middletown Methodist Church. They were married for 62 years.
He spent many years being a transport delivery driver based in Hazelwood. He delivered cars throughout the U.S. He also enjoyed raising hogs, chickens, and cattle.
Dick was a lifelong member of the Middletown Christian Church, where he also served as a deacon. He was a member of the Middletown Lions Club, where he enjoyed volunteering.
He loved to restore old furniture and his little gray Ford tractor. Dick was very skilled at gardening and landscaping, and he enjoyed tending flowers in his yards. Collecting was also one of his hobbies. He loved country music. His favorite place to vacation was Estes Park, Colo.
He had his Grandpa Hirsch’s laugh and was always full of humorous stories and adages.
Dick is survived by his wife, Catherine; two daughters and their spouses, Jennifer Gregory and husband Lyle of Kansas City and Julie Haramia and husband Mischa of Ventura, Calif.; brother, Robert LeMasters of Verona, Wisc.; sister, Fern Blaue of Warrenton; brother-in-law, Howard Weilmuenster of Ballwin; sister-in-law, Twila May of Los Alamitos, Calif.; sister-in-law, Marilu May of Everett, Wash.; grandchildren, Katherine Elizabeth Gregory of Kansas City and Matthew Thomas Haramia of Ventura, Calif.; and numerous nephews and nieces and cousins.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Garnet LeMasters and Nattie Abt; two brothers, Glendale Hirsch LeMasters and Leonard Wayne LeMasters; and son, Jeffrey LeMasters.
Memorial donations may be made to the Middletown Christian Church or the Middletown Lions Club.
