Richard David Frewaldt

   The man Richard Frewaldt, some of you know him simply as Richard, some as Dickie, most know him as Rich, but his most favorite people call him Dad.

Richard grew up in eastern Oklahoma with his Mom, grandparents, brother John, and sister Suzie. They grew up making long RV trips as a family to Disney World and the east coast. Richard spoke often about his weekend trips to his Aunt Judy's with his dad and Granny and considered those some of his happiest memories.

   As a teenager Richard was always in some kind of mischief, always pushing the envelope. This wild side stayed with him longer than it probably should've. He loved sports, OU football specifically, but over his school career he played in whatever he could get into. His favorite to play was football which was cut short by a knee injury, he also played soccer, and had the most success in high school basketball where he made All State. He was also a part of the Outdoor Skills class where he learned repelling and went on a lot of float trips down the Illinois. Richard graduated from Markoma Bible Academy in Tahlequah, OK. From there he took off to work at a church camp in Arkansas before settling in Yukon with his dad and Granny.

   It was here he met his Spooky Fruit buddies which would spark lifetime friendships and even lead to him meeting his wife Melissa. Richard loved nothing more in his early 20's than to be watching these boys' shows, helping them load and unload all of their equipment and feeling like he was a part of the band.

Through his favorite drummer Austin and a little fate he managed to meet what would be his future wife and life partner Melissa. Richard had seen Melissa at Sonic where she and Austin worked together, and thought she was so pretty. Richard asked Austin to set them up, but Austin got confused on who Richard was talking about and planned a date for Richard with another girl. A few weeks later, not knowing this had taken place, Melissa went into City Bites where Richard worked to visit a friend and saw him behind the counter and thought he was so good looking. The next day Melissa was telling a coworker about the super cute guy she saw the night before and her friend asked if she got his number. Melissa responded with "Nah, it's not gonna turn into anything, he'll just always be the hot guy at City Bites" the next day Melissa went to get lunch at Sonic and was talking with Austin, when he told her Richard wanted her number. That afternoon, he called her and they made plans to meet. Richard didn't say a word to her the entire night, but she met up with him again the next night and from there they were inseparable.

They were married only a few years later and their life together began. They had their first baby boy Brady five years after they were married and two years later Macy Moo came and completed their family.

Richard was a phenomenal dad. He loved his kids more than anything else. He poured everything he was into making sure those people were happy, taken care of, and sharply dressed. As the years went by his devotion to his kids never waivered. He was at every play, concert, game, practice, and school meeting there was, even stepping up to coach Brady's basketball team when they lost their coach. If he ever did have to miss something he was on the phone constantly with Melissa asking for updates. He carried so much pride with being Brady and Macy's dad, giving anyone who would listen updates on their lives. His favorite was watching them on the football field. He loved being at the Miller stadium with the other football dads watching all their boys play and talking about the team. He was always so fired up for football season to start and was already talking about Brady's upcoming senior year in football and wondering what the coaches would have to say about his boy at the football banquet.

Their family was a tight knit family, where they shared lots of laughs around the kitchen table every night at dinner or sitting outside around the fire pit roasting marshmallows in the backyard. Richard was always ready to go somewhere, which was a battle with Mel because she loved to be at home the most. Regardless, they have a million memories of quick day trips, trips to the lake for the yearly pig roast, camping trips with friends, shopping trips to the mall, Friday night dinners with his dad and sister, Tuesday night bible studies with Mel's family, evening drives with their favorite music blaring, quick trips to the gas station for drinks and snacks anytime they left the house. The most cherished for Melissa were their Saturday dates. They would spend their Saturday mornings laying in bed drinking their coffee, planning their weekly menu and spending the day grocery store hopping after stopping at Dutch for their weekly drink.
In the end, Richard found a job working for an oil field supplier, it was here he would find his calling in work. He loved driving out to the rigs and shooting the bull with the pushers, taking in the beautiful scenery along the way and always bringing Mel freshly picked flowers in an empty OnCue cup. He told her just a few weeks ago, "it's almost time for me to start bringing you flowers again".

Richard and Mel were a couple that never quit on each other. They saw their dark days in marriage, but their love for each other and faith in Christ was stronger than anything else. They were best friends, if they weren't working, they were together. Melissa often wondered if the other parents made fun of them for showing up to meetings together that most others only sent one parent, she expressed this to Richard once and he responded with "Who gives a shit?" And that sums up Richard as a person. He never worried what others thought, he always did what he thought was right and what he thought was best for his family. He lived life to the fullest, never missing a chance for a good time. His laugh and his spirit were contagious. He brought a light to everyone's day that he never fully saw in himself. He was a husband, father, son, and friend taken from us too soon. He would not want us to sit and mourn his death, but to join together and celebrate the life he had. However short it may have been, he lived a life full of joy and full of people who loved him.

Richard is survived by his wife Melissa Frewaldt; son Brady Frewaldt; daughter Macy Frewaldt; brother John Frewaldt and Casey; sister Suzie Frewaldt; mother Londa Frewaldt; father Mike Frewaler; niece Harley Rose; along with his other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Richard is preceded in death by grandparents Genevieve and Lester Frewaldt; grandparents Sue and Dick Ledgerwood; uncle Bill Ledgerwood; and cousin Wisdom Ledgerwood.

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