Richard Lee "Rick" Begley

• Richard “Rick” Lee Begley, 63, was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather,

  brother, uncle and friend. He left this world suddenly on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at

  his home.

  Born February 18, 1958, he was the son of the late Walter and Kathleen (Houston) Begley

  of New Straitsville. Besides his parents he was proceeded in death by his beloved brothers

  Walter Jr. “Mick” Begley, John “Jackie” Begley and David Begley.

  He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years Roberta “Bobbie” Begley, his beloved daughter

  and son-in-law Tarra (Michael) Begley-Hoops and the proudest grandfather to his new

  grandson Sawyer Case Hoops. He was also an honorary dad to Skylar (Desiree) Miller,

  Seth Miller, Kylee Mourey and Madison Post, as well as an honorary grandpa to Coleson

  Miller; siblings Linda (David) Vahey, Tom (Donna) Begley, Kathy Begley, Gary (Jackie)

  Begley and Nancy (Terry) Swingle.

  A 1976 graduate of Miller High School, Rick spent 13 years at Bremco working as a welder

  while learning construction and starting his own company, Begley Construction, where he

  had worked for himself for over 30 years. Rick was formerly the Village Administrator for

  the Village of New Straitsville, Maintenance Manager at Sugar Tree Terrace, Coal Township

  Trustee and a heavy machine operator.

  Over the years he had built homes, garages, shelter houses and done tons of excavating

  work around the area – his work is everywhere. He was a regular helper for the town

  maintenance crew, generally as an unpaid private citizen, who just jumped in to help where

  he possibly could.

  He has also spent the last 16 years on what is probably his favorite project – building and

  operating Begley’s ATV Campground in New Straitsville. Converting an old apple orchard

  into a campground, Rick was a driving force behind making New Straitsville and the

  surrounding area a destination for ATV enthusiasts. People thought he was crazy then

  people thought he was a brilliant businessman. In the end, it was here that he was able to

  both work hard and have fun. Located only yards from his home, the campground is where

  he made countless new friends and he loved to sit and compare stories with campers.
• Locals were always welcome too. He would offer you a beer, then tell you to grab one for

  him too. If work needed done, he would sit side-saddle on his 4-wheeler and cruise at 3

  mph to work then come cruising back. He only rushed if he was pursuing potential

  troublemakers. For years now, he had sponsored and put on huge firework displays over

  July 4 weekend, always happy for the public to attend too just so everyone had a good time.

  Rick was rough around the edges, had no filter and gave no concern for images. He never

  met a stranger and he liked everyone, unless you gave him a reason not to. Once that

  happened, a wave to him would generally be returned with 4 fewer fingers. But if he was

  your friend, you never had one better. He would give you anything he had and do whatever

  he could to help you. You were lucky if you called him friend and luckier if he said the same

  of you.

  Funeral Arrangements will be by J.E. Humphrey Funeral Home.

  Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 16, 2021, at

  Begley’s ATV Campground with interment at the Shawnee Public Cemetery.

  Friends may call from 2-8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at the Campground

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