Clifford Eugene "Gene" Richardson, 89 of Mesa, AZ, died Wednesday, May 18, 2011 in Mesa, AZ. Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 26, 2011 at the Glenwild Cemetery in Cleveland, MO.

Gene was born July 1, 1921 in West Line, MO, the son of Clifford Percy and Martha Irene (Gallamore) Richardson. He was united in marriage to Verla Lavon Cook on June 21, 1947. Gene was a WWII Army veteran and served in the South Pacific.

He was a Kansas Game Warden for six years before owning and operating the Boathouse at Wyandotte County Lake for 18 years. In 1976 he moved to Mesa, AZ where he owned several Taco Bells with close friends. After Gene retired, he loved to travel with Verla around the United States and Canada where he loved to salmon fish.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Bud Richardson and Bob Richardson and four sisters, Evelyn Moul, Betty Freeman, Pat Seacrest and Marcella Cross. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Verla, of the home; three brothers, John Richardson and his wife, Nancy, Grandview, MO, Jessie Richardson and his wife, JoAnn, Cleveland, MO and Larry Richardson and his wife, Linda, Belton, MO; two sisters, Martha Lyon, Freeman, MO and Mary Jane Ullery and her husband, Glendon, Lee's Summit, MO; several nieces and nephews and friends.