Angelique Lynn Armstrong

Ms. Angelique Lynn Armstrong, age 41, of Andalusia went to be with her Savior, on Thurs., Nov. 17, 2016, in a Pensacola hospital, after an acute battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Mon., Nov. 21 , 2016, at the Keahey Chapel. Her father, the Rev. Ray Armstrong, will share the message. Musicians will be Martha Cordell and Juanita Jackson. Interment will follow in the Hopewell Baptist Church cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home directing. Serving as pallbearers will be Michael Hall, Josh Quates, Archie Parker, Craig Lord, Troy Wiggins and Leonard Palmer. Honorary pallbearers will be employees of any of the restaurants where she had been employed. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday at Keahey Funeral Home.

Left to cherish her beautiful memory are her parents, the Rev. Ray Armstrong and Patricia (Wiggins) Armstrong. Angelique said she “had the best daddy in the world!”; her husband and soul mate, Lewis Idleburg; her daughters, Melenie Armstrong, Iiesha Lane, and Latianna Williams; and step-children, Shantaris Idleburg and Cameron Johnson; one granddaughter, Amillianna Palmer; brothers, Daniel Ray (Teria Archie) Armstrong and Michael Lee Armstrong, all of Andalusia.

Angelique was known well around town, for her smiling face and the wonderful customer service that she gave to everyone who visited a restaurant where she was working. She had been employed with Larry’s Barbeque for many years, had worked at Pizza Hut, Waffle House and other popular restaurants. Most recently she was with Captain D’s. With any of her restaurant employments, she quickly moved into a managerial role. One of her favorite times of employment was while being involved in a “Party Planning” business. With that she often played the role of a clown.

Along with her naturally smiling face, she had many other attributes that made her a wonderful entertainer of people. She learned to play the piano at an early age and began using her talent for God at the age of 16. Long Branch Baptist Church was the first church where she served as church pianist. At the time of passing, she was the church pianist at First Congregational on Dunson Street, where her father pastored.

As a teenager, she and her brother both were members of the Red Level School band and created a wonderful memory last year when they participated in the Red Level Alumni Band performance.

As her parents had instilled in her, she would try relentlessly to help a person solve any financial or personal problem they had. Also, she would sacrificially keep children that needed a loving, safe environment. She had “taken in” some children in need for as long as a year at the time. She had loved helping coach her daughter’s cheerleading squad at Andalusia Elementary. Her grieving family encourages others to learn from Angelique’s life: to work at what a person enjoys doing and regardless of what a person is going through, keep smiling, find laughter in things and give lots of hugs, and if possible “wear comfortable clothes!”

 

Richard Kearley, Jr.

Richard Kearley, Jr. went to be with his Lord and Savior on Oct. 30, 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. R. I. Kearley, Sr., and sister, Anne Kearley Tipler. Immediate family survivors are his loving wife of 64 years, Clarice, sons Rick (wife Donna) and Joe.

Reared in a caring and highly motivated family in Andalusia, Richard at an early age developed many life-long interests. One was his “forever” interest in music due to the influence of his musician mother. He loved all kinds from country to Broadway musicals to classical. Chopin was his favorite composer. Several times he served on church pipe organ committees. His veterinarian father taught him the value of life in his love of animals plus the importance of being honest in all relationships.

When World War II broke out, Richard attended Georgia Military Academy and upon graduation joined the Navy. Ultimately he was selected for the Navy V-12 program. Given the choice of remaining for officer training, Richard instead choose to pursue further education offered by the V-12 at Auburn University from which he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Later graduate work was done at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

An exciting offer came to him from WSM-TV in Nashville. They were in the early pioneering days of TV development and offered him the opportunity as an engineer to be on the ground floor. At the same time and as a Registered Professional Engineer, Richard established with others from Dothan, Alabama, WTVY television station. He was involved with WTVY for over twenty years as a consultant and director and was responsible for securing the CBS network for them. He was also instrumental in establishing several FM radio stations.

Furthering his engineering interests led Richard to accept a position in research and development with Texas Instruments in Dallas because of their work in the developing space program. One of the highlights of his career at TI was the significant part he played in the development of the Mercury space capsule Alan Shepard flew in our nation’s first sub-orbital flight into space. Today this ship is exhibited in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Richard added to his professional career by graduating from Southern Methodist University with a Masters of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. A firm believer in education led him and Clarice to establish an engineering scholarship at Auburn University. Both also loved to travel and did so extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and China.

Rounding out his own interests, he created the establishment of his own company, The ABE Corporation. He also belonged to various professional and social organizations: the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), Rotary International, Dallas Knife and Fork Club, Antique Radio Club, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, Dallas Symphony, and the Dallas Organ Society (local and national).

Richard loved the Lord and also served as a deacon at First Baptist Dallas.

However, he always believed the crowning achievement and what God wanted him to do was helping to establish Christian radio (education) station KCBI-FM (90.9). He was approached by Dr. Leo Edelman, president of what was then Criswell Bible Institute (now Criswell College) for help. Encouraged and greatly aided by other Christian leaders, particularly Dr. Paige Patterson, now president of Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, made the dream possible. Richard worked many hours helping obtain FC C approval, engineering, marketing, and other means to secure KCBI-FM. He earnestly believed “to God be the glory.” “Well done, good and faithful servant” and beloved husband and father until we meet again.

A private family memorial service will be held. To honor Richard’s memory, if desired, memorials maybe made to KCBI-FM (90.9) (www.kcbi.org) or the charity of your choice. The family is also most grateful for the love, support, and many prayers of those who knew Richard.

The contact information for KCBI-FM is:

KCBI Radio Network,

750 N. St. Paul, Suite 1050 Dallas, TX 75201,

phone (469) 801-7000.

The website is www.kcbi.org.

Condolences may be offered at www.legacy.com.