In Loving Memory of
Richard Warren Sears, III
January 25, 1973 – February 22, 2021
Celebration of Life
Mountain View Funeral Home
Mesa, Arizona
March 8, 2021, 3:00 P.M.
Richard Warren Sears, III (Rick) was born in Lake Forest, Illinois on January 25, 1973. He left this earth on February 22, 2021 in Mesa, Arizona. He was the namesake and a great grandson of Richard Warren Sears, the founder of Sears, Roebuck & Co.
He is survived by his mother, Darlene Nelson Sears Sanders (Roland W. Sanders, Jr., D.V.M.), of Florida; his father Carroll Sears (Inge Sears), of North Carolina; two sons, Jeffrey Warren Sears, of Michigan, and Private First Class Michael Gene Sears, U.S. Marine Corp; brothers Robert Burnette, of Arizona, Charles Burnette, of Tennessee, Michael Burnette, of Alaska, and Jonah Sanders, of Florida; his uncle Eugene Nelson (Sharon Nelson), of Illinois; cousins Jon Nelson, of Illinois, and Lisa Caryl, of North Carolina. He is also survived by many great nieces and nephews and numerous great, great aunts and uncles and second cousins as well as many close friends. He was preceded in death by his brother Thomas Nelson Sears, his sister Barbara Sears Napier, and his grandparents, Arthur W. and Evona Nelson, of Arizona and Illinois.
Rick grew up in Lake Forest and Highland Park, Illinois and attended the Bannockburn School in Lake County, Illinois, high school at Red Mountain High School in Mesa, Arizona and the Judson School in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he graduated in 1992.
Rick was an expert carpenter and handyman, and his passions were riding motorcycles, riding quad-runners in the desert, shooting, and gathering friends to grill and show off his grilling skills.
He loved children and was a generous person who loved helping others and often put his own needs aside to help his friends. He had the biggest heart and always knew the right words to say. He loved his work, was proud of the work he did and developed close relationships with his clients, often caring for them when they fell ill, driving them to doctor appointments, bringing them food, helping them around the house and with basic daily tasks, a true caregiver.
Rick loved life and no matter what challenges he endured, always wore the biggest smile and told the funniest and sometimes even crude jokes. He took things in stride and looked at tomorrow as a new day. He had many friends and was everyone’s rock, but even rocks crumble sometimes.
Rick will be greatly missed by everyone but has left us with a lifetime of memories to share, stories and jokes to tell.
Link to Zoom Service:
Time: Mar 8, 2021 03:00 PM Arizona
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84329603405?pwd=RnBLVnBtSEhMK3FVaW9iRU8zMTBUUT09
Meeting ID: 843 2960 3405
Passcode: 435758
I love and miss you, Rick. Thank you for the many years of good times and memories and mostly for always being there for me when I needed you and even when I didnt. I wish I had been there for you, wish I would have gotten up when you woke me and sat down to talk to you a while. Perhaps you would be here today. I will forever mourn the loss of you, my friend, my life partner. I know one day you will be there to greet me when my time comes. I look forward to that day. Until then, I will miss you each & every day.
Rick called me his second mom. I treated him like a son. Rick was caring and kind. He would give you his last dime. Rick loved his friends and treated them like family. He always let me know he loved me. He would go out of his way to help others in need. He was my world and I am going to miss him. May he find peace as he rest in the arms of the lord.
His Dad, Carroll will miss him greatly, the Sunday phone calls, the occasional visits here in N.C. and in Az. We talked a lot and never did he seem sad or unhappy. I hear his voice as I write this final note. Wish he had opened up to someone about his sadness. He is gone in body but never in memory, I just wish he had told us goodby, left us an exclamation, Love you Rick, Dad
Rick we all will miss you dearly. You are now able to greet your siblings in the arms of the lord. With all the heavily prayers Mary (Lanahan) Wood and family With our Love
Rick You were always a good friend and I was always proud to introduce You to other Friends and family of Mine. I will miss You My Friend. may you rest in peace.
Darlene, This is Lynn Julien, I am so sorry for your loss of Rick. My son Karl and Rick were partners in driving your Mom, Dad and I completely crazy. Or at least me, your Mom and Dad were completely unshakeable.
Please know if there is anything I can do just let me know.
My Love and Prayers goes out to you and your family.
Special Regards
D Lynn Julien
480-229-8195
We remember Rick when he was really young, while our band was staying at Art and Evona’s home in AZ. He was such a nice guy, I’m sure he will be missed by many. Deepest Sympathy to Darlene and family.
Thank you everyone for your kind and loving comments. We are all devastated as you can imagine. It is very sad and now he and is gone from this physical world but lives on in our hearts forever. We celebrate his life. Rick, I love you and always will. Darlene (Mom)
It’s hard to believe you’re really gone from our lives here on earth. You were a terrific friend Rickle Pickle. You loved me when no one else did. You helped me countless times. I could always count on you. I’m so sorry that I didn’t see that you were hurting. You were always the strong one amongst us all. I’ll miss you very much Rick. Until we meet again my friend xoxoxo
No more demons now . Just peace. My soul and instinct told me to call Rick weeks before he died. I hadn’t talked to him since Evonna ( grandma) died. It was the first time he sounded at peace with himself . Almost as if he came to terms with himself and his past . Maybe he was just ready. I wish I had called him two weeks later when my intuition told me to again. But I didn’t. Now I walk away with a different view on life . I will miss you Rick. Your smile , laugh, and crude jokes that would offend any millennial. You were always honest (even when you shouldn’t have been) You never judged me and I never judged you. We were who we were , and that’s what I will miss most. Not only were you my cousin,but a true friend. You will be missed
I only knew Rick but a short time we met thru mutual friends he always went out of his way to greet me so kindly and warmly when I saw him. He was always busy working on projects and always had a big smile on his face; what little I knew of him I never would have anticipated what has come to pass I guess you just never know the pain people are holding inside – to his family and friends I send my condolences. to Rick may you rip I hope you are dancing in the sky with your loved ones you lost in the past and are looking down on those you cherish that remain here and you are smiling that big goofy smile that was all yours I know you will be surely missed here RIP Rick
To all of Ricks Family and Friends sending our deepest condolences! Rick was a great friend and neighbor! He worked for our Construction company and made so many Happy customers!! We will miss you sooo Rick, your hansome smile and jokes! May you Rest in Peace now ! Love you Rick!!! Forever in our hearts!!
I miss you dad. I love you very much and think of you all the time. I wish so badly that you were still here.
Still find it hard to believe you’re not here. I miss you Rick. I really miss you.
I’m so sorry to hear about Rick’s death we were best friends through grade school, my love and sympathy to mrs,sears
So miss you brother I’m in debt to your teaching and friendship and love selfless Rick never said no to anyone in need including me thanks Ricky .anthony becerra