Obituary of Richard Robert Earl

Our beloved husband, dad and friend Rick Earl has gone to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on July 31st, 2019. He was surrounded by the love of all of his girls by his bedside, after a long battle with his health. Rick was raised in SE Portland by his mother Nadine “Billie” Earl. Rick had two brothers, Ron Earl (now deceased) and Terry Earl of Tucson, Arizona. Being the eldest of his two brothers, he spent much of his teenage years helping to raise them as his mom was often busy running her own business. One of Rick’s favorite past times was telling the many stories about growing up with the brothers he loved so dearly. Rick’s passion in life was basketball. Word is he walked, ate and slept basketball, dribbling his basketball to and from school each day. Rick attended Marshall high school where he earned honors in basketball; First Team All PIL, second leading scorer in the PIL, third leading scorer in the state of Oregon, and Oregon Honorable Mention. After graduating from high school, Rick received a full-ride basketball scholarship to the University of Portland. During his college basketball career, he experienced four different head coaches in the four years he attended. This may have been where Rick learned the good, the bad and the ugly of coaching, sparking an interest that carried him into his own personal journey of becoming a well-rounded coach. His college basketball achievements consist of Most Inspirational Player (1970), Top 20 for free throw percentage (.750), highest scoring game as a freshman (34 points), and highest scoring game as Varsity player (23 points against 7th ranked Santa Clara). While at the University of Portland, Rick gained friendships with people he remained close with throughout his life; Jim Frank of Mill City, Oregon, Mike Wright of Sacramento, California, and Mike Noonan of Portland, Oregon. He also met his mentor Father Pru who guided Rick through his college education and built up the character he already possessed. Rick graduated as an English major and pursued teaching high school English. According to Rick himself, too many of the highschool girls followed him to his car at the end of the school day and he soon realized he could get into trouble if he remained in this career as a young twenty-something year old. Taking another career path, Rick began working as a manager at Garrett Freightline where he met another lifelong friend, Arnie Momb of Clackamas, Oregon. Rick and Arnie had many fun times out on the dance floor around town. Rick would always say his beautiful daughters got their rhythm and moves from him. The two of them would head to the nearby Slabtown on their lunch breaks where they happened upon (in the words of Rick himself) “a long-legged brunette bombshell” waiting tables, who at first wouldn’t give him the time of day. But Rick’s charm and sense of humor couldn’t keep Margaret Allen away for long. Rick followed Margaret down to California where she was based during her years as a flight attendant. Margaret Allen became Margaret Earl in May of 1975, married by Pastor Charlie Brown at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in SW Portland. With guidance from his father-in-law, Chester Allen, Rick began his construction company, Rick Earl and Associates which later changed to Rick Earl Construction Company. This became his life-long career that paid the bills, but he later discovered that his true passion is coaching. Before starting a family, Rick continued to play basketball at open gyms throughout the Portland area until he ventured into a new sport, due to his convincing brother-in-law, Jim Allen of Sherwood, Oregon. This began his desire to learn the game of European football, also known as soccer, where he played as a brut defender on the infamous Acropolis soccer club. He soon developed a love for the game and formed more life-long friends, Mick Hoban, Rick Hobson, and Pat Buckley, all of Portland, Oregon. Rick’s coaching career began at Franklin high school coaching men’s basketball, where he met another life-long friend, Rick Rier of Portland, Oregon. During this time he began a family with his wife, daughters Mariesa (1980) of North Hills, California and Erica (1984) of Beaverton, Oregon. After years of being away from the family coaching at Franklin, his wife gave Rick an ultimatum that if he wanted to continue coaching, he would have to coach his daughters. In the early 90’s, he soon gave up high school coaching to begin youth soccer and basketball programs at Smith Elementary and Jackson Middle School. He also welcomed his third daughter Alexandria (1990) of Boulder, Colorado. This began the decades of coaching and mentorship of many young female athletes. Rick would read books and study videos of both soccer and basketball, to ensure that his players benefited from each practice and game opportunity. He not only taught the game, but built the character of his athletes, and made them laugh a few times along the way. He touched the lives of many throughout his years coaching youth programs. When an opportunity arose to coach at the high school where his daughters attended/would attend, he jumped at the chance. This was his time to get back into the competitive world of sports in which he began his coaching career. His first year as head women’s basketball coach for Wilson High School was also his eldest daughter’s senior year. His daughters couldn’t stay away from coach dad for long. He continued to coach at Wilson for the next six years, which included coaching his second daughter’s high school basketball career. Wilson went on to be PIL champs for consecutive years. From Wilson, Rick moved to LaSalle High School taking the head coaching job for the women’s program. After his stint at LaSalle, Rick was called back to coaching youth again for the All In One (AIO) basketball club with David Lucas of Portland, Oregon. Rick ended his coaching career with the Cleveland youth basketball program coaching middle school boys. There is where he had the pleasure of coaching the same group of boys for three years, once again developing not only the athlete but the character within his players. Rick had the smile that lit up a room. He made hard times easier by finding the positives in situations. His witty personality, puns and play on words carried him through the tough stuff in life. The fondest memories of those he played with and coached was his great sense of humor. Throughout the years, he was known for his punchlines and antics. Standing around on the soccer field would get you a “You watching grass grow?” If you got beat as a defender, it’s “You’re a day late and a buck short”. Being a spectator while on the basketball court will get you a “You waiting for a bus?” When you stand in his way you’ll “make a better door than a window”. Don’t make a decision without him, or it was “Who’s we? You got a mouse in your pocket?” And asking him where he’s going would get you a “to the moon, wanna go with me?” Rick was a man of God, never missing church on Sunday with his family (unless one of his teams had an occasional weekend soccer or basketball tournament). He instilled Christ-like family values and prayer into his family’s lives. He enjoyed leading high schoolers to Christ on the Mexico Mission Trips, while simultaneously using his construction skills to build homes for families in need. Over the last few years, Rick looked forward to his Tuesday bible studies with his small men’s group. It was there that he solidified his spiritual purpose, growing closer to God and finding ultimate peace. This spiritual journey helped him battle his health challenges, building endurance, character and hope in Salvation that filled his heart with love (Romans 5: 3-5). We know that Rick is looking down on us, in his heavenly body, no longer in pain. We love you daddy, husband, uncle, brother, friend and coach.