Mary Karen Richards, MD

Mary Karen Richards, M.D. was born in Jamestown, N.Y. on April 7, 1945, grew up in Auburn, N.Y., and died January 1, 2013 at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center. Dr. Richards graduated from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1971 and came to Arkansas in 1976 as the Assistant Professor of Cardiology at UAMS. She went into private practice in 1978. Among many other honors and awards, she became Chief of Staff at MOPAC hospital, and later became Chief of Staff at Southwest Hospital. Dr. Richards's early interests included horseback riding, scuba diving, duck hunting, white water rafting and later she became a black belt in Taekwondo. She is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Charles Richards and Fannie Richards. She is survived by one sister, Elizabeth Malone (Art); nephew, Jacob Akoi; stepmother, Dorothy Richards; along with many cousins, friends, colleagues, and patients. We would like to thank the staff at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center for the extraordinary care and friendship for the last six weeks of Dr. Richards's life. Calling hours will be Sunday January 6th from 4:30pm to 7:30 p.m. The funeral will be on Monday, January 7th at 10 a.m. Services will be held in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home at 5800 W. 12th Street. Interment will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery. Please share your memories and send the family messages of love, comfort and condolences to Mary's online guestbook at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.