Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Richards

Mary Elizabeth Barnes Richards, age 90, of Highway 194 North, Boone, passed away Tuesday morning, July 28, 2020 at the Cranberry House in Newland. Born November 25, 1929 in Watauga County, she was a daughter of Stewart and Estella Coffey Barnes. Mary Elizabeth was a member of Boone Baptist Church and will be remembered for her love of the Lord, and her family and church community. She enjoyed working in her yard, caring for her flowers and maintaining her annual vegetable gardens, but her passion was being surrounded by her family and sharing memories from picture albums. Mary Elizabeth loved baking breads and cookies and preparing meals for family and friends and especially fixing Saturday morning breakfasts for the boys that worked for R.L. delivering Sealtest Milk door to door. Occasionally she would slip off with friends to dig May apple roots. She is survived by her daughters, daughters, Brenda Trivette and husband, Mike, of Boone and Sharon Townsend and husband, Kenneth, of Banner Elk; sons, Larry Richards and wife, Vivian and Bob Richards and wife, Betsy, all of Boone; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and sister, Becky Miller of Kernersville. A number of nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, R. L. Richards; sister, Betty Elliott; and brother, Jim Barnes. Funeral services for Mary Elizabeth Richards will be conducted Friday morning, July 31, at 11 o'clock at the Boone Baptist Church, officiated by Pastor Kenny Newberry. The body will lie in state at the church from 10 until 11 o'clock, prior to services. Graveside services will follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens. The family respectfully requests attendees to wear masks and observe social distancing. At other times, the family will be at the home of Brenda and Mike Trivette, 225 Rainbow Trail, Boone. Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to Boone Baptist Church, PO Boxes 2058, Boone, NC 28607. Online condolences may be shared at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Richards family.