Richard J. Ury

Richard Joseph Ury, 84, of Hot Springs, passed peacefully on Nov. 29, 2019.

He was born March 28, 1935, in New Orleans, La., to the late George and Josephine Ury.

He is survived by his saint of a wife of 54 years, Jane; son and daughter-in-law, Steve Ury and Cindy Davis; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Paul Holthus; brother and sister-in-law, George and Marilyn Ury; two nieces, three adoring granddogs, and numerous friends who were more like family.

Richard grew up a mischievous child and followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a jockey then trainer. He and Jane met on a blind date in January of the 1966 Oaklawn race meet and married at the end of the meet.

Rich and Jane picked Hot Springs when deciding to leave the hustle of racetrack life. Rich retired after 20 years at Reynolds Metals. He was a true lover of all things music. If you were at Crosswalk during live racing the last several years, chances are you saw him dancing. He was an avid tennis player for more than 40 years and a member of the 1995 3.0 National Champion Doubles Team Tennis.

If you were friends or even family, chances are he offended or ticked you off, probably more than once. But he would eventually apologize and make you laugh ten times over.

He loved and adored his wife more than anything in this world. And he had a special bond with his tennis buddies and sorority family. His granddogs gave him true joy and happiness, especially Sancho.

The family would like to give special thanks to Lake Hamilton Health & Rehab and Arkansas Hospice.

No services will be held per Rich’s request. Memorials may be made to Oaklawn Chapel.

Online condolences at http://www.caruth-hale.com.