Richard Lee Henderson

Richard Lee Henderson, 80, of Mounds, died Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born on Jan. 19, 1945, in Cairo, the son of Charles and Evelyn Jett Henderson.

He attended and was baptized at Cairo Baptist Church, now Mighty Rivers, where he began his Christian walk as a teenager.  

Richard graduated from Cairo High School in 1963. He was quite the athlete, playing both baseball and basketball. 

During High School, he worked as a Soda Jerk at The Dairy Treat after school. 

After graduation, he married Gayle Vines and they moved to the St. Louis area, where he took a job at McDonell-Douglas building aircraft for the war effort in Vietnam. 

He was offered a waiver for the draft since he was building the aircraft for use in the war, but he respectfully refused, and along with many of his friends joined the United States Marines, where he earned the rank of Corporal, with Rifleman Status, and received a Purple Heart for injuries he received in combat. 

Following his time in the Service, he returned to Mounds and started his career as a mechanic with his Father-in-Law at Vines Garage, working there until he and Gayle divorced. 

He then bought that business and it became Henderson Automotive at a new location on Blanche Street in Mounds, where he worked for over 40 years until suffering a stroke in 2023. 

He was a St. Louis Cardinals fan, and very seldom missed watching a game. He enjoyed golfing when he was younger, loved classic cars and was quite a good cook. 

In 2014, he met and started a life with his sweetheart and fiancée’ of 10 years, Julia Duff-Thrower. They built a wonderful life together and enjoyed eating at various restaurants, visiting local tourism venues, with Rendleman Orchards being their favorite, and spending time with the animals at their farm in Pigeon Roost, near Olive Branch. 

He was a member of the Southern Grace Community Church in Mounds, where he served as a Trustee for many years, and also a member of the Mounds VFW Post, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and the Marine Corps League. He was a loyal Patriot to his Country and was proud to have served

Also surviving are his sister, Gwendolyn Marie Sevier of Pekin Ill.; his nieces, Kittra Zantout of Sahurarita, Ariz., Lisa Henderson of San Francisco, Calif., and Debra Morris of Pekin, Ill.; his nephew, Kenneth Henderson of Covington, Ky.; several great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins; Julia’s children, whom he claimed as his own, Heather, Ben and Joshua Cowsert; her Grandchildren, Houston, Inge and Emma Porter, Kit and Wiley Cowsert; his best friends, Tammy St. Arbor and Kevin Beegle; and his beloved neighborhood cats, which he enjoyed, his favorite being Adolf.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his older brother, Jerry Henderson.

Funeral Services were Monday, Feb. 10, at noon at Southern Grace Community Church (formerly Mounds United Methodist), with the Rev. Doug Atkins officiating. 

Interment followed the funeral service at Mound City National Cemetery, with Military Honors by the American Legion Post No. 178.

Memorials can be made to Southern Grace Community Church and/or Mounds VFW Post and/or the Mounds Public Library and/or the Smiles Senior Center, who provided him with many good lunches through the years.

Crain Funeral Home in Cairo was in charge of arrangements.

To view the obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.