Richard Maurice DeMets, 70

Published 10:46 am Monday, May 12, 2014

Richard Maurice DeMets of Dallas, Texas, passed away April 22, 2014, after a long illness in Dallas, Texas.

DeMets

Dick was born Nov. 12, 1943, in Austin, Minn., the second oldest of four siblings. He grew up in Austin and developed a life-long love of fast cars as a member of the “Thumpers” car club. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict where he developed an interest in skydiving while participating in an Army paratroop show group. He had a professional life in Minneapolis and Los Angeles, always maintaining his passion for building and racing dragsters, which eventually became his full-time occupation as DeMets Racecars in Denver and Dallas. Always a fearless and upbeat person, “Uncle Dick” enjoyed life best while screaming down the track in the “Bowtie Bandit” driving 200-plus mph and talking shop with other gear-heads. His cars were featured in Hot Rod and Super Chevy magazines. His passions included spending time with family and friends, golf and going to the casino.

He is survived by sisters Marlene Hall Murphy, Janette DeMets and Cindy Arett, daughter Gwen and Jeff Graham and children Kourtney and Haleigh Graham and daughter Amy and Mark McDermott, nephews Scott Hall and children Shelby and Garrett Hall, and Mike and Amy Hall and children Brady, Zachary and Cameron Hall. Nieces Michelle and Michael Cullin and children Ashton and Avery Legenza, Saryn and Matthew Johnson and children Ryland and Maryn Johnson, Andrea and Jeff Bailey and children Hannah and Emery Bailey, as well as loving aunts, uncles and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents Ruth DeMets Young and Maurice Emil DeMets and nephew Richard Bruce Hall.

Funeral Services to be held at 2:30 p.m. May 16, 2014, at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas. Pallbearers are Scott Hall, Michael Hall, Brady Hall, Zachary Hall, Garrett Hall and Mark McDermott.

Please make any gifts honoring his memory to the American Cancer Society.