Richard “Rick” Mayes

Richard “Rick” Mayes

Prospect, Ky.

Richard “Rick” Fredrick Mayes of Prospect, Ky., passed away peacefully on Feb. 21, 2023, with family at his side.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie and Grace Mayes; siblings, Sally and Charles (Chuck) Mayes; and his wife, Susan.

Rick is survived by his brother, Robert “Bob” of Stuart, Fla.; son, Robert “Bob” of San Francisco, Calif.; and daughter, Elizabeth “Beth” Mayes and granddaughter, Willow Schwan of Ferndale, Wash.

Rick was born at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, on Oct. 11, 1941. He grew up in Rockford, Ill., where he attended Keith Country Day School and Rockford West High School. Rick graduated from Northwestern University, where he majored in English and was a member of the Chi Psi fraternity. It was at Northwestern that he met the love of his life, Susan (nee Spiller). The two were married in Evanston, Ill., a week before Christmas in December 1963 during a blizzard, but so much sun and warmth was to follow over their next half century together.

Rick began his professional career working at the Indianapolis Star. His career was put on pause in 1966 when Rick signed up to serve his country as an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Charles R. Ware (DD-865). After his tour took him to Vietnam and other ports around the world, he would resume his career and start a family while also continuing his service in the Navy Reserves for 20 years, retiring with the rank of Commander.

With a second child on the way in 1973 he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, helping the Amana Refrigeration Company introduce microwave cooking into our kitchens. Rick would then join CMF&Z, establishing the regional agency’s public relations group and growing it nationwide. In 1991 he joined Jack Guthrie of Louisville, KY as President and COO of Guthrie/Mayes & Associates. He was active in Rotary Club, and served on the boards of the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky and the Lincoln Heritage Council of Boy Scouts of America.

Throughout, he followed his passions of golf, fishing, sports cars, travel, reciting verse from Robert William Service and being a devoted husband and father. He lived out all but his very last days in his house in the woods in Prospect that he had loved for more than three decades.

There will be a private memorial service to wish fair winds and following seas at Mayport Naval Station, Jacksonville, Fla., home port of the USS Charles R. Ware. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, any memorial donations be made to Hosparus Health at hosparushealth.org/donate/.