Rick Henderson

Richard E. Henderson (Rick), a Midland resident, died Saturday December 15th after a brief illness. Services will be held on Tuesday, December 18th at First Presbyterian Church at 3:00. Steve Schorr will officiate.Rick was born on March 3, 1950 in Houston, TX. He moved to Midland just in time to start first grade at Sam Houston Elementary. His years in Midland provided him with his large collection of life-long friends.Rick graduated from Kemper Military Institute in Boonville, MO in 1968. He attended TCU and after several semesters of simply enjoying college life, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.For many years as an adult, Rick lived in Ennis, Montana where he created the Beaverhead Estates property development. He later joined his father at Rich-Air Co, a fixed-based operation at Midland International Airport and most recently was active in Rich-Air Properties.Rick especially loved Mexico, its people and its culture. After making his mark on the Montana community, Rick headed south of the border where he built a home in Creel, Chihuahua. He loved the Copper Canyon Mountains and would frequently call home to his Midland friends and family asking how hot is it there? and then to his friends in Ennis to ask how cool is it there? Just to rub it in. Rick developed his own version of Spanish and entertained locals with his mastery of the new language. To say Rick was larger than life would be an understatement. Rick was an avid reader and a vivacious debater, and could always turn a bad situation into a memorable story filled with humor. Rick talked to his sister, Susan, every single day, regardless of where he was. Rick was preceded in death by his father, Richard L. Henderson, his step-mother Elma Jean Henderson and his compadre and majordomo, Manuel Diaz. He is survived by his mother and step-father, Beth and Charles Priddy; sister, Susan Askins; his niece, Kendall Smith and her husband Rusty and their children, Elizabeth and Collins; his nephew Mason Askins and his daughter Presley Miller, all of Midland; his nephew Cooper Askins and his wife Stephanie and their son Elliot of Austin; and step-sisters Susan Jarrett and June Jarrett; step-sister Barbara Clark and husband John Clark; Walter Priddy and wife Kim Priddy, and Charles Priddy Jr.. His extended family includes life-long friends like Mark, Jan, Fred, Mike, Bob, Paul, Mike and his second family, Margarita and Alberto of Creel, Mexico.The family would like to extend a special thank you to Hospice of Midland, Deputy Ed at the Midland Sheriff Department, Alex with the Texas Border Patrol, Dr. Sanchez of Alpine, the staff of Medical Center Hospital, the staff of Midland Memorial Hospital all who helped with Operation Gringo Rescue to bring Rick to Midland.In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Midland or First Presbyterian Church of Midland.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.,