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Richard Ferris, 84, of Kerrville, TX, passed away surrounded by family and friends on January 21, 2022. Born in Rochester, NY, on Jan. 10, 1934, to Eversley and Martha Ferris, he married Lorrie Liberti on April 19, 1959, in Louisville, Ky.
After driving tanks for the Army during the Korean war and on the GI Bill, Richard graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida with his engineering degree. He was hired by Kerrville's own Mooney Aircraft Company, and he moved his fledgling family to Texas in 1964. After a successful five-year stint with Mooney, the entrepreneurial spirit hit Richard and, along with his wife Lorrie, he opened his first business in 1969 named A-Z Rental Center. After buying out the franchise in 1971, the name Ferris Rental Center serviced the Texas Hill Country for over 30 years. The Cowboy Steak House followed in 1977, along with Party Panache and Nicky's Shuffleboard Bar to name a few.
Richard was and had been very active in the community. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion, The Elks, the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce and the Kerrville Jaycee's. He was always trying to, in his opinion, improve Kerrville for the future. Just ask some past city council members and mayors.
He was a tank driver, motorcyclist, pilot, aeronautical engineer, airplane A&P mechanic, entrepreneur, business owner, art collector and avid traveler. He was well-known in the wine world for his spectacular pallet and tasting abilities. He is also known for being very abstemious, something learned form his mother. What he is not well-known for is how generous he was. Many, many charities benefited from his generous contributions.
He was a 62-year husband, a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be missed.
He is survived by his wife, Lorrie; his three children, daughter Lori Graham and her husband Milford, Linda Ferris, and son David with his wife Carey; grandchildren, Bryan and his wife Leah, Mark Graham, Travis and his wife Ariel; great-grandchildren, Dustin and Sabrina; brother-in-Law, Pete and Dottie Liberti; and his extended family of Justin, Katie and Penelope Tenery and Jaiman, Tamara, Jayden and Paislyn Yarbrough.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, at Grimes Funeral Chapel.
Wake immediately following at The Cowboy Steak House, all invited
After driving tanks for the Army during the Korean war and on the GI Bill, Richard graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida with his engineering degree. He was hired by Kerrville's own Mooney Aircraft Company, and he moved his fledgling family to Texas in 1964. After a successful five-year stint with Mooney, the entrepreneurial spirit hit Richard and, along with his wife Lorrie, he opened his first business in 1969 named A-Z Rental Center. After buying out the franchise in 1971, the name Ferris Rental Center serviced the Texas Hill Country for over 30 years. The Cowboy Steak House followed in 1977, along with Party Panache and Nicky's Shuffleboard Bar to name a few.
Richard was and had been very active in the community. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion, The Elks, the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce and the Kerrville Jaycee's. He was always trying to, in his opinion, improve Kerrville for the future. Just ask some past city council members and mayors.
He was a tank driver, motorcyclist, pilot, aeronautical engineer, airplane A&P mechanic, entrepreneur, business owner, art collector and avid traveler. He was well-known in the wine world for his spectacular pallet and tasting abilities. He is also known for being very abstemious, something learned form his mother. What he is not well-known for is how generous he was. Many, many charities benefited from his generous contributions.
He was a 62-year husband, a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be missed.
He is survived by his wife, Lorrie; his three children, daughter Lori Graham and her husband Milford, Linda Ferris, and son David with his wife Carey; grandchildren, Bryan and his wife Leah, Mark Graham, Travis and his wife Ariel; great-grandchildren, Dustin and Sabrina; brother-in-Law, Pete and Dottie Liberti; and his extended family of Justin, Katie and Penelope Tenery and Jaiman, Tamara, Jayden and Paislyn Yarbrough.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, at Grimes Funeral Chapel.
Wake immediately following at The Cowboy Steak House, all invited