Richard "Dick" Hardman Raney, 88, of Lawrence passed away May 16, 2017. He was born July 2, 1928, to Richard M. and Mildred Hardman Raney in Osborne, Kansas.

Dick graduated Osborne High School and entered KU in 1945. He earned degrees in business administration in 1950 and pharmacy in 1952. In June 1952, he married Kathleen Larson, also a KU graduate. They had 2 wonderful children, Michelle in 1954 and Richard B. in 1955. Dick and his father founded the first Raney Drug Store at 9th and Massachusetts. They later opened one at 9th and Iowa and another at 18th and Massachusetts. He and his father would go on to develop the Hillcrest Shopping Center at the 9th and Iowa location. Dick operated these stores for 46 years before selling them to the Kroger Co.

An avid hunter and fisherman, Dick enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends. He enjoyed spending summer months in Pinedale, Wyoming, after retiring. There he and Kathleen would host family and friends. He was also a dedicated tennis player for many years.

During his years in Lawrence, Dick served on many boards, including the Ballard Center, Cottonwood, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army, KANU, KU's Natural History and Biodiversity Museum, and Friends of the KU Library. He was elected to the Lawrence City Commission and served as mayor in 1967. He was instrumental in the passage of the Lawrence Fair Housing ordinance, which provided housing protections to all citizens of Lawrence, and the development of the Lawrence public pool. Several of these experiences have been covered in books, including Bill Moyers' Listening to America. He was a member of the Lawrence Rotary Club, and a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church for 71 years. As well as founding member of the Saturday noon lunch group.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents; son, Richard B. (1983); daughter, Michelle (2006); and wife, Kathleen (2015). He is succeeded by his grandchildren, Jehren Eugene of Overland Park, Kansas; Jonathan Richard and Fernanda Raney of Lawrence; great-grandchildren, Jackson Richard and Gabriela Santos of Lawrence, and Amora Michelle and Roman Curtis of Overland Park, Kansas.

A private inurnment will take place at Pioneer Cemetery followed by a service at Plymouth Congregational Church at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Plymouth Congregational Church or the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology Unit in his name and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

Online condolences may be posted at warrenmcelwain.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Lawrence Journal-World on May 19, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Raney

7 Entries

Niki Galiano

December 30, 2018

I was a pharmacy student who worked at Raney Drugs in 1992, or 1993. I remember that there was always something fun happening at Raney's. (In face, I'm writing a TV sit-com pilot about it. Hopefully it will get picked up so Mr. Raney's legacy will continue. As we used to say in pharmacy school, he was a real "piller" of the community. (Thanks Mr. Raney for giving me a job when I needed one.)

charlee thomson

May 27, 2017

We will miss you as our neighbor in the Cora valley. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family at this difficult time.

Sandy Thomson

May 21, 2017

I worked at 9th and Iowa back in the 60's. I remember him but not well. Last time I was in Lawrence I saw the pharmacy was gone,but I have good memories of my time working there! RIP

Helen Pendleton Rumbaut

May 20, 2017

I remember Dick Raney from my childhood, and worked at Keeler's Bookstore on Massachusetts Street for several years, which was close to Raney's. Dick was the best friend of my uncle, Melvin Clyde Cottom. A few years ago I was visiting my father, Bill Pendleton, and we ate at the Eldridge Hotel. I was happy to find out that seated at the next table was Mr. Raney, as well as some family and football players. He always had a smile on his face. May the Lord Jesus comfort all who mourn.

Elizabeth Woods

May 20, 2017

The Raney Drug Store was always a busy place downtown. The store out by the Dillon's had a little lunch counter and a couple of tables. It was a popular place for a quick bite of good food and meeting up with friends/family when in Lawrence. Mr Raney certainly gave so much for the betterment of the whole community of Lawrence by his involvement. He and his wife were blessings to the area. Thank you for sharing these remembrances of him. Elizabeth Weeks Woods

Richard Heckler

May 20, 2017

Well Dick I hope I am as mobile as you when and if I become 88 years old. RIP.

Thanks a lot for allowing me and my family to work with you and Kathleen at your home for so many years it has truly been a pleasure.

Kathleen and Dick = truly wonderful people.

Butch Henderson

May 19, 2017

Very few are blessed to have friends like Dick. He richly blessed and profoundly touched my life.

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