Richard Benfield

Mr. Richard D. "Rick" Benfield, age 62, of Ocean Springs, MS, died Wednesday, November 9, 2005, in Biloxi. Rick was born in Jacksonville, FL, on July 19, 1943. In 1961 he moved with his family to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and met the love of his life, Dusty Spragio Benfield. They were happily married for 40 years. Rick was interested in music, technology, and airplanes. He had an extraordinary love for his pets, Gidget and Scooter. Rick was employed with Boomtown Casino as the Purchasing Manager since 1994 when the casino first opened. Prior to being an employee with Boomtown, he was employed with Alpha Optical Systems in Ocean Springs for 20 years. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert R. and Prunella D. Benfield and his sister-in-law, Susan Spragio Brewer. He is survived by his wife, Dusty Spragio Benfield of Ocean Springs, sister, Barbara "Barbie" J. Morgan of Los Angeles, CA, and brother, Keith "Kip" R. Benfield and his wife, Diane, of Napa, CA, mother-in-law, Miriam Spragio, brother-in-law, Royal Spragio, and his wife, Sharon, sister-in-law, Gwen Spragio, all of Biloxi, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Visitation will be on Saturday, November 12, 2005, from 1-2 PM, with a 2 PM Memorial Service, all at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1132, Fairfax, VA, 22038-1132. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.