Barbara E. Richardson

Barbara E. Richardson

(February 27, 1940 – April 29, 2023)

Barbara Ellen Richardson , 83, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 8:27 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2023 in Shelbyville Manor.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday May 4, 2023 at Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL, with Pastor Mike Carr officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Robinson Creek Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL.  Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society, Arthritis Foundation or the National Kidney Foundation.

Barbara was born on February 27, 1940 in Waggoner, IL, the daughter of Harry Eugene and Dorothy Ellen (Edmundson) Mills.  She attended Girard High School. Barbara married Ernest “Ernie” D. Richardson on January 5, 1957, and he preceded her in death on July 10, 2010. Barbara was a crossing guard at Shelbyville High School and a dog catcher for the City of Shelbyville.  She also worked as a beautician and later worked at Shelbyville Manor and Shelby Memorial Hospital. She and her husband, Ernie, owned and operated Hillside Bait and Tackle in Shelbyville. Barbara enjoyed working crossword puzzles, target shooting with bow and arrow, and watching the birds and squirrels. She was an avid Elvis fan.

Barbara is survived by her daughters, Brenda Sands of Shelbyville and Tammy Thompson (Joe) of Windsor; son, Ernie Richardson (Brenda) of Shelbyville; son-in-law, Mike Hightower of Shelbyville; sisters, Jeanne Batchelor of Springfield, IL, Sandi Beck (Lacy) of Shelbyville, IL, and Jan Thompson (Dean) of Herrick, IL; brother, Tom Mills (Carol) of Herrick, IL; 12 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ernie; daughter, Vicki Hightower; son-in-law, Mike Sands; granddaughter, Sara Mae Bradbury; sister, Wanda “Sis” Weiss (Kenny); infant sister, Dena Mills; brother-in-law, Batch Batchelor; and her pet parrot, “Lucky”.