Richard Leon Horton, age 79, of Royse City, Texas, died May 30, 2023. He was born in Marshall, Arkansas on September 20, 1943 to Roy S and Alice Williams Horton, as the youngest of six children. He married the love of his life, Violet McEntire, on November 3, 1960 after they met at a high school basketball game.

They lived in Marshall, Arkansas where he managed the family business, Roy Horton Chevrolet, alongside his sister, Kathleen Sanders, until 1985. He then moved to Texas to join another family business, D.R. Horton Homes, and worked there until he retired on September 30, 1997.

After retirement, he served on the board of directors of D.R. Horton for several years. He shared a passion of thoroughbred horse racing with his brother, Willis Horton, and two nephews, Terry and Cam Horton. Not one to remain idle, he and Violet bought a cattle ranch in Mt. Vernon, Texas and moved in 2001. He then found the perfect spot to expand his cattle ranch in Clarksville, Texas, which he affectionately named 4 Stars Ranch after his four children.

He loved working with “his girls” (his cows) and raising a beautiful, large garden yearly. Any produce they did not can, freeze or preserve was shared with their family and church friends. Of all his endeavors, his most prized roles were husband, dad, and papaw. He loved his grandchildren and spent hours teaching them to hunt and fish. He enjoyed sharing stories with them about his time spent at Pro Bass Fishing tournaments. While residing in Clarksville, he was a faithful member of the Clarksville First Baptist Church, serving as a deacon and a member of several committees.

Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Violet Horton; son, Rick (Traci) Horton of Nevada, Texas; daughters, Valorie (Wendel) Passmore of Marshall, Arkansas, Shawn (Pat) Carter of Royse City, Texas, and Cynthia (Scott) Wilburn of Austin, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren (number 15 due in November); sisters-in-laws, Wilma Horton of Morrilton, Arkansas, Glenda Horton of Marshall, Arkansas, and Maybelle (Kenny) Morris of North Little Rock, Arkansas; special niece and favorite travel buddy, Sandy Horton of Braselton, Georgia; along with numerous nephews and nieces. The family would like to extend a special thanks to his angel caregiver, Vangie McCormick.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Alice Horton; brothers, T.J., Eugene, Eutaw, and Willis Horton; sister, Kathleen Sanders; brother-in-law, Lloyd McEntire; and grandson, Benjamin Passmore.

Following funeral services in Texas on Friday, he was brought home to Arkansas. Funeral services for him was11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Roller-Coffman Chapel in Marshall, Arkansas with his lifelong friend and classmate, Rev. Don Campbell officiating. Terry Horton served as eulogist. Visitation was 10:00 until 11:00 preceding the service. Burial was in Marshall Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were his grandsons, Alan Watts, Austin Passmore, Kyle Horton, John Scott Wilburn, Joshua Wilburn, Jacob Wilburn, and great grandson, Bryce Cooper.