Richard Arthur Wages, Sr., 75, of Brandon, Mississippi passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 in Jackson, Mississippi.  Richard was born September 12,1946 in Mobile, Alabama and was reared in Pascagoula, Mississippi.  After graduating from Pascagoula High School in 1964, Richard attended Millsaps College for one year before transferring to University of Southern Mississippi to finish out his college career. While at Southern, he met Betsy Moses whom he would go on to marry in 1969, and together they were fortunate to raise four wonderful children. Richard had a long career as a schoolteacher, teaching culinary arts at the Career Development Center in Jackson for 32 years.

After his retirement in 2010, he delighted in working in his yard and tending to his garden, both of which were great passions of his, in addition to spending time in the kitchen.  So much so that he took all of the classes required through the Mississippi State Extension Service to become a certified Mississippi Master Gardener. He was also fond of keeping track of the weather which his kids teased him mercilessly about due to his near-constant alerts of impending tornados, hurricanes, or the occasional Mississippi snowstorm. A natural-born educator, he was always happy to share his knowledge, whether it be advising someone on the best variety of tomato to plant, or showing his grandchildren how to make from-scratch cinnamon rolls, he was always happy to teach. He also enjoyed following Southern Miss football and spending time with his eleven grandchildren.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd Arthur Wages and Grethel Jeanette Wages, his former wife and mother of his children, Frances (Betsy) Moses Wages, and his grandson, Bennett Scott Tomlinson.

He is survived by his wife, Maliwan (Joy); his children, Richard Arthur Wages, Jr. of Loveland, CO; Amy Wages Lynn (Richard) of Brandon, MS; Jennifer Wages Anderson (Jimmy) of Brandon, MS; and Courtney Wages Tomlinson (Scott) of Hattiesburg, MS; sister, Karen Johnson (Jimmy) of Biloxi, MS; grandchildren, Mackenzie Kay Wages of Boulder, CO; Connor Scott Wages of Loveland, CO; Katherine Elizabeth Lynn of Memphis, TN; Pearce Arthur Lynn of Brandon, MS; Abigail Grace Lynn of Brandon, MS; Baleigh Elizabeth Anderson of Hattiesburg, MS; Robert Cole Anderson of Auburn, AL; Reece Walters Tomlinson of Hattiesburg, MS; Hayes Wages Tomlinson of Hattiesburg, MS; and Jane Elizabeth Tomlinson of Hattiesburg, MS; and his beloved Bassett Hound, Daisy.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00am Saturday, March 12, 2022 at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home, Flowood. The family will receive friends from 10:00am until service time.

Memorials can be made to the MIND Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center or to the Trisomy 18 Foundation. Rest easy, Dad you will certainly be missed by so many.