Richard “Dick” Hardman Raney
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Richard “Dick” Hardman Raney, 88, of Lawrence passed away May 16, 2017. He was born July 2, 1928, to Richard M. and Mildred Hardman Raney in Osborne, Kansas.
Dick graduated Osborne High School and entered KU in 1945. He earned degrees in business administration in 1950 and pharmacy in 1952. In June 1952, he married Kathleen Larson, also a KU graduate. They had 2 wonderful children, Michelle in 1954 and Richard B. in 1955. Dick and his father founded the first Raney Drug Store at 9th and Massachusetts. They later opened one at 9th and Iowa and another at 18th and Massachusetts. He and his father would go on to develop the Hillcrest Shopping Center at the 9th and Iowa location. Dick operated these stores for 46 years before selling them to the Kroger Co.
An avid hunter and fisherman, Dick enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. He enjoyed spending summer months in Pinedale, Wyoming, after retiring. There he and Kathleen would host family and friends. He was also a dedicated tennis player for many years.
During his years in Lawrence, Dick served on many boards, including the Ballard Center, Cottonwood, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army, KANU, KU’s Natural History and Biodiversity Museum, and Friends of the KU Library. He was elected to the Lawrence City Commission and served as mayor in 1967. He was instrumental in the passage of the Lawrence Fair Housing ordinance, which provided housing protections to all citizens of Lawrence, and the development of the Lawrence public pool. Several of these experiences have been covered in books, including Bill Moyers’ Listening to America. He was a member of the Lawrence Rotary Club, and a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church for 71 years. As well as founding member of the Saturday noon lunch group.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents; son, Richard B. (1983); daughter, Michelle (2006); and wife, Kathleen (2015). He is succeeded by his grandchildren, Jehren Eugene of Overland Park, Kansas; Jonathan Richard and Fernanda Raney of Lawrence; great-grandchildren, Jackson Richard and Gabriela Santos of Lawrence, and Amora Michelle and Roman Curtis of Overland Park, Kansas.
A private inurnment will take place at Pioneer Cemetery followed by a memorial service at Plymouth Congregational Church at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Plymouth Congregational Church or the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology Unit in his name and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.
We lost a very dear friend in Dick Raney. I first met Dick in 1969 as he invited me to have coffee at his diner at Raney drugs on Mass. He has provided guidance as a mentor and valuable insights on the inner workings of Lawrence, Kansas. He was truly ahead of his time and provided hope that there are many more individuals like him in this wonderful community. He also shared the darkness that was so prevalent during his tenure as a leader in Lawrence. Many of us looked forward to our Saturday lunch at the Eldridge and will miss his presence.
I came to know Dick late as a member of the Saturday lunch group of which he was the convener. He was a kindly and witty host whose connections to Lawrence and its surroundings ran long and wide and deep. He’ll be missed. I’ll miss him, that’s for sure. — John Dardess.
It has been our privilege and joy to have Dick as our friend for almost a lifetime, starting with our days at the Phi Gam house in the 40’s. We remember with fondness the wonderful wedding of Dick and Kaki in Wamego in 1952, and all of their early marriage events — the births of Michelle and Rich, and the growth of the Raney “industries”. It was a joy to hear Dick tell about his successful Wyoming hunting trips under the guidance of Snook (spelling???) one of his favorite people. Dick’s generosity meant so much to us, especially during Sally’s mother’s last remaining years at Brandon Woods nursing home. Dick insisted we stay with them during our frequent visits from Nebraska, rather than stay at a motel. Our bonds with Dick were always strong. In these last few years we have been totally aware that Jehren and Jonathan were devoting their lives to taking care of Dick. Goodbye to our dear friend, we are the better for having known you.
I met Dick in 1969 while attending KU and have been honored to be his friend ever since. He was a great mentor to me, a friend to those in need, and an inspiration to everyone. The world is diminished by his passing. I will miss him dearly. John Pettit