CRAIG ELIHU RICHARDSON, SR., 57, of 95 Old State Road, Lanesborough,
died Saturday, April 12, at Berkshire Medical Center, after being stricken earlier in the
day of an apparent heart attack.
Born in North Adams, October 17, 1950, a son of Charles and Beulah Harwood
Richardson, he attended schools in New Ashford and Mount Greylock Regional High
School. Mr. Richardson was employed as a warehouse clerk in the Receiving Department
of KB Toys, Inc., for fifteen years until its closing in 2001. Prior to that, he worked as an auto mechanic for Goodyear Tire & Auto in North Adams and had worked at Scarafoni
Ford in North Adams.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing, country music, and played guitar and sang with
the former band, "The Informals".
Mr. Richardson leaves his "Dear" friend of 15 years, Bernice J. LaForest with
whom he resided; three sons, Adam L. Richardson and his wife, Christine, of the Town
of Florida; Craig E. Richardson, Jr., and his wife, Britt, of Webster, Massachusetts; and
Kirt C. LaForest and his fianc�e, Darla Duclos, and her children, Anthony and Tayshia,
of Cheshire; two daughters, Rose "Jamie" Rathbun and her husband, Brad, of the Town
of Florida, and Mary J. LaForest of Greenfield; two sisters, Cheryl DeMyer and Carlanne
Rancourt both of New Ashford; seven grandchildren; his life-long best friend, Fran
Jolin and his wife, Pat, and his former wife, Dianna M. Gaetani Ardizzoni of the Town of
Florida.He was pre-deceased by two brothers, Charles "Buster" Richardson, Jr., and
Carey E. Richardson.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services for CRAIG ELIHU RICHARDSON, SR., will be Thursday,
April 17, at 12:00 noon at DERY-CHESHIRE FUNERAL HOME with Rev. John
Betit, Pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church, in Sutton, Massachusetts, officiating.
Calling hours will be Wednesday, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., and Thursday, from 11:00
to 12:00 at the Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr.
Richardson may be made to Lanesborough Fire Department in care of the Funeral
Home, P.O. Box 445, Cheshire.