Richard E. Mehal, Jr. (1952-2026)

A LIFE WELL LIVED

A celebration of Life will be held at Grandview Pavilion in Maryville on Saturday, October 17th at 3 p.m.

Interment will take place at the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery on Monday, October 19th at 10 a.m.

Rick was born in Baltimore, MD. His family relocated to FL, where he attended high school. Rick eventually settled in Knoxville, TN, courtesy of the USAF.

Rick had a zest for life, doing everything wholeheartedly and with excellence, never settling for "just good enough." He had such an ease about him, and he never met a stranger. Swapping tales of the good Ole days became his favorite pastime as he moved into the golden years of retirement.

SPOUSE – It was love at first sight for Rick and Annette when they met in May of 1988. They married 3 months later in August and after 38 years they were still singing, "Your still the One"! Annette nicknamed him "her hero," and he lived every day to live up to this, especially during all the health challenges he endured.

CHILDREN – Rick and Annette couldn’t wait to begin their blended life with their two children, Kimra S. Hirsch and Stephen B. Brunson, who were just ten years old at the time. Family trips to SC and FL to visit family were some of Rick's fondest memories in those early years.

GRANDCHILDREN – Though Rick loved sports, swinging a golf club with friends especially at Lambert Acres, playing and teaching others to play the guitar, and collecting coins, Rick really loved being Pappaw to his grandkids, never failing to entertain them with his wit and Pappaw jokes. He even dressed up as Santa Claus one year when he was sporting a full white beard. As the years went by, he looked forward to our annual beach vacations and other destination vacations with his children and grandchildren.

PETS – While we had several pets over the years, our current fur baby, Annie, stole his heart. They were inseparable. Annie followed him everywhere. She would do things every day that would make him laugh. She was always the "boss".

FRIENDS – Rick made friends easy and kept in contact with some high school friends like Larry Henderson, as well as a fellow veteran, JD Lewis. More recently, our next-door neighbor, Joe Mitchell, and Rick became fast friends and golf buddies. But best of all was his friend Tracy McNitt. Tracy was like a brother to him. They definitely kept each on their on their toes with "musical interludes" or just by telling funny stories. Tracy always admired how kind-hearted, daring and brave and how unafraid Rick was in learning new things. These are just some of Rick's enduring qualities that were admired by so many.

JOB – Rick's 1st job was working at a fish camp near his childhood home on Merritt Island, FL. After High School, Rick as a welder at Disney World but later enlisted in the USAir Force during the latter part of the Vietnam War. He served 7 years as the Radiology Specialist in Knoxville, TN earning him a distinguished JOINT SERVICE COMMENDATION MEDAL awarded by the Department of Defense. He continued a career in Radiology as a civilian eventually moved on to become a CT and MRI technologist. He retired from Summit Medical, where he began and supervised two MRI locations. Rick was the most gentle and caring man when working with patients, especially those who were apprehensive. He was great in calming their fears and talking them through it.

Rick continued his education while working and graduated with honors from Johnson University with a Bachelor's degree at age 60 to show his grandchildren you are never too old to learn.

CHURCH/COMMUNITY GROUP –

Tracy and his wife Eva began an online ministry under the name Let Hope Arise, at which time they invited Rick and Annette to be their co-ministers. Rick's words of encouragement to others can still be heard on the app (Let Hope Arise App https://get the app.co/b79z).

Rick's was preceded in death by his parents, Dolores and Richard Mehal Sr as well as his beloved daughter, Kimra Mehal Hirsch.

He was survived by the love of his life and wife, Annette Watson Mehal as well his step-son Stephen (Beth) Brunson, and six grandchildren, Noah (Maci) Brunson, Ethan Trusler, Carson (Ariana) Trusler, Emma Brunson, Fayth Lee, and Sarah Brunson.

Rick was also survived by his two sisters Valerie (Jim) Sibley and Bonnie (Mark) Howard; Sister's in law, Cynthia (Richard) Norton, Debbra Watson; Son-in law Dan Hirsch, and Brother's in law Paull Watson (Lorna), and Jeffrey Watson; as well 15 neices and nephews with special mention of Fleur Mehal, Sandra (Bruce) Ogilive, and Shari (Jeff) Kampsen.

Rick leaves these final thoughts: "When you think of me, I hope you will remember all the good times we shared and how I ran my race well on this "Great Big Ball of Dirt". I love you all and pray you will find the peace and comfort that only comes thru our Lord and Savior".

Donations to the American Heart Association would be greatly appreciated in lieu of flowers.