Richard "Rick" Ernest Ruddick

Richard Ernest Ruddick, known to friends and family as "Rick," passed away peacefully after a battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Rick was born in Ukiah, California, and attended Ukiah schools. He was an honor roll student through Jr. High. After graduation from High School, he attended Jr. College and then Cal-Poly, San Luis Obispo. His major was Ag Business. Rick served on a California Farm Bureau State Committee and served as a board member and Vice President of the Mendocino Co. Farm Bureau.

He was an advisor of the Chico State Stock Dog Assoc. He became an accomplished trainer of stock dogs and proud of his Awards. Rick farmed for 20 years and proved to be an excellent farmer. He then worked for the Pinoleville Pomo Nation Tribe for 20 years off and on. He had a deep respect and caring for the Pomo culture, the beliefs and the Tribe who became family to him.

Rick could take a piece of bare land and transform it into a beautiful garden. He inherited his farming traits from his ancestors. Rick had a quick sense of humor, he was a great story teller-adding embellishments that made the story even better, he was an avid reader, he was intelligent and he felt at peace with being outdoors. His favorite go to place for serenity was the Lost Coast. Rick had a kind heart. He was loved. He lived life on his terms. Rick joined his grandparents before him and his beloved sister, Erin. He is survived by his parents, Dick and Sharon; his children, Ryan and Melissa; his grandchildren, Evan, Dylan, Harper and Jack; his brother, Randy and sister-in-law Carol and his nieces, Samantha and Rachel. Services will be private.