Carl J. Richards, 92, of Nederland, died Friday, July 13, 2012. He was born on March 19, 1920, to Rozell Dugan Richards and William Hobart Richards, in Panama, Oklahoma, and had been a resident of the area for eighty-nine years. Carl was a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, having served in World War II. He worked as a pipefitter for Gulf Oil before retiring after thirty-nine years. Carl was a sixty year charter member and Past Master of Nederland Masonic Lodge #1368, A.F. and A.M., Port Neches Chapter #436, R.A.M., Port Neches Council #413, R.S.M., Port Arthur Commandery #73, Nederland Chapter O.E.S., # 1079, as well as a recipient of the Golden Trowel Award in 2010. He also attended and was a longtime member of Hillcrest Baptist Church, Nederland.

Survivors include his wife of sixty-five years, Mary Lou Richards; son, Wade Richards and his wife, Sandra; and daughter, Tammi Jordon and her husband, Bob, all of Nederland; grandchildren, Jared Richards and his wife, Mandy; Jason Richards and his wife, Sara; and Brian Jordon; great-grandchildren, Layton and Teagan Richards; sister, Syble Wheat of Mena, Arkansas; and a host of additional relatives and friends.

Carl is preceded in death by his parents, Toby and Dolly Richards; brothers, George and Clifford Richards; sisters, Ruth Hammett, Katherine Chatagnier, and Hazel Livingston.

A gathering of Mr. Richards’ family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday, July 16, 2012, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at Broussard’s, with interment to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches. Serving as pallbearers will be the members of Nederland Masonic Lodge #1368, and surviving male family members, Reverend Thomas H. Eakes, Bob Jordon, Brian Jordon, Jared Richards, Jason Richards, Layton Richards, Teagan Richards, and Wade Richards.