Richard Kevin Girdley

June 20, 1964 – June 9, 2025

Richard Kevin Girdley, a true cowboy, craftsman, and steward of the land, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2025, just weeks shy of his 61st birthday. Born June 20, 1964, in Bardstown, Kentucky, Richard spent his life in service to his farm, his animals, his family, and his deep love of rural life. He resided on his beloved farm in Boston, KY, with his devoted wife of 35 years, Tina Girdley.

A farmer at heart and a horseman by trade, Richard was most at home under the open sky, boots in the dirt, hands in the soil. His first love was training Thoroughbred horses—an art he practiced with care, pride, and a license that marked his deep knowledge and dedication. From sunrise to sundown, his days were filled with purpose: tending to his garden, raising food from the land, and caring for his pygmy goats, chickens, and rabbits.

Richard was a man of many skills—but most known as he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother. He is survived by his wife, Tina; his mother, Carol Streight; father, James “Jimmy” Girdley; his two children, Richard Kevin Girdley Jr. (Shania) and Relichia Dawn McSorley; and four grandchildren—Ray, Justin, Keyandre, and Eleanor—who were the joy of his later years.

He also leaves behind his six siblings: Vicky Clark, Wayne Girdley, Robert Girdley, Phyllis Yates, Gina Robertson, and Amy Gunther; several nieces and nephews; and his faithful companion, Sally, who never left his side. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joey Streight, whose memory remained close to his heart.

Those who knew Richard knew he believed in hard work, honest living, and doing things the right way—even if it took longer. His legacy lives on in the furrows of the land he tended, the horses he trained, and the love he gave so freely to his family.