Joseph Richey Jr. M.D.

Joseph Lewis Richey, Jr., 61, of Alpine, Utah passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Thursday, April 16, 2015.  Joe, the second of ten children, was born in Oakland, California, on August 22, 1953, to Joseph and Sharon Richey.  As a young man, Joe received the Eagle Scout award and served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Rosario, Argentina. He received a B.S. Degree from BYU, and went on after many years of school and training, became a Flight Surgeon in the Navy, was stationed on Marine Corp. bases and went on to achieve his dream of becoming an Orthopedic spine surgeon.  Joe’s career path was a road with stops in Guadalajara, Mexico; Fresno, Calif.; Twenty-nine Palms, Calif.; Worcester, Mass.;  Kentucky;  Redding, Calif.; and ultimately in Utah County, where he practiced at Central Utah Clinic, since 2000.

While Joe loved practicing medicine and bringing relief to his patients, his primary love was his family.  He spent every spare minute with them – traveling, camping, hiking, sailing, shooting, bicycling, singing, running 5 K’s, and guitar jam-sessions.  Joe loved photography and took thousands of pictures – mainly of his children and family activities.  Joe loved the simple things of life – serving in his church callings, sailing his boat, a chat on the porch of his home, playing with his grandchildren, or standing at the sink doing the dishes after a huge family dinner. Joe loves his Heavenly Father and brother Jesus Christ and his life exemplified his great desire to follow them.


Joe is survived by his wife of 33 years, Roberta Overman Richey, his 8 children, Daniel Richey (Kallie), Steven Richey, Katie (Andrew) Crandall, Jason Richey, Anna Richey, Sarah Richey, Jacob Richey, Jenni Richey; his 4 grandchildren: Carter Crandall, Carly Crandall, Finley Richey and Lawson Richey; his sisters: Kristine Smith (Steven), Lisa Roubicek (Michael), and Suzanne Fitts (Stewart); and his brothers: Thomas Richey, Jonathan Richey (Janet), Mark Richey (Kristin), David Richey, and  James (Heather) Richey.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 1, 2015 at 11 am in the Alpine LDS Stake Center, located at 98 East Canyon Crest, Alpine, Utah.  Viewing will be held Thursday evening at the chapel from 6 to 8 pm as well as Friday morning from 9:30 to 10:45 am prior to the service.  Interment will follow in the Highland Cemetery,  Highland, Utah.