Rick Hargraves was born in Sioux City, Iowa on June 19, 1951, and passed away in Houston, Texas on March 21, 2026.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Wm. Harvey Hargraves, Sr. and Shirley Landers Hargraves, his brother Wm. Harvey Hargraves Jr. and nephew Wm. Harvey Hargraves III.

Rick is survived by his loving wife, Terry Hargraves; his daughters, Nikki Vannoy and Stephanie Vaughn and sons-in-love Clint Vannoy and Beni Barr; grandchildren, Jordan Vaughan, Bayley Vaughan, Ryan Gipson, Cameryn Vaughan, Logan Gipson, Blayke Vaughan and Piper Vannoy; great grandchildren, Willow Holland, Greyson Vaughan, Halley Vaughan, Millie Gipson and another baby Vaughan on the way. He has three surviving brothers, Lanny Lammers, Kirk Hargraves and Scott Hargraves, and his beloved Uncle Paul Lammers.

He attended Port Neches Groves High School, where he played first chair trumpet in the 1968 State Championship Marching Band. During this time he also achieved Eagle Scout, absorbing the Boy Scout Motto, Be Prepared, deep into his soul.

Soon out of high school he married Virginia Prowse, who became the mother of his two daughters. From 1970 to 1980 Rick was a firefighter and was the youngest captain ever appointed in the Port Arthur Fire Department.

During this time, while raising two kids and working 3 jobs, he put himself through college at Lamar University. He majored in Computer Science before most of us knew what a computer was.

In 1981, after a whirlwind courtship, he married Terry Hargraves. They were inseparable for almost 45 years.

After kissing several corporate frogs, he landed the job of his dreams and the world's best boss at United Recovery Systems, where he worked from 1990 until his retirement in 2014.

In his non-professional life he was a skilled photographer, an avid scuba diver, a talented woodworker, a born teacher, and the most devoted dog lover. Ever.

People talk about unconditional love. You rarely actually see it. Rick embodied it, purely and completely.

In 2023 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He defied the odds, surviving chemo, radiation, and an incredibly complicated Whipple procedure to remove the cancer. In 2026 it became metastatic.

The cancer never had a chance to make him sick. But complications from the surgery tormented him for two more years before they finally took his life. He fought with uncommon valor and endured unimaginable pain for three weeks before it finally got the best of him.

Despite his illness, he managed to (Be Prepared) tie up every loose end, repair every broken thing, and ensure that his absence would cause as little upheaval as possible for his family.

Visitation will be held from 5-8pm on Friday March 27, 2026 at Klein Funeral Home, 14711 FM 1488, Magnolia, TX 77355. A funeral service for Rick will be held at 2pm on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Klein Funeral Home in Magnolia.