Rickey Jim Armstrong, 64, died Friday, February 7 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, OK following a brief illness. Rick graduated Will Rogers High School in Tulsa in 1968, attended Louisiana State University and graduated with a degree in Landscape Architecture from Oklahoma State University in 1976. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. In 1985 Rick married Amy McNeil. They had three beautiful children who Rick loved deeply: Andrew, Nicholas and Sara. Each was born in a different state as Rick's early professional career was evolving in Texas, Virginia and California. In 1997, Rick and the boys made their home in Scottsdale, AZ and Sara moved to the northwest with her mom. Over the years Rick and Amy maintained a strong friendship.
Rick pursued life with great passion and joie de vivre. He was fiercely loyal and along the way earned many extraordinary friendships he cherished throughout his life. He was the beneficiary of a large, close family. He dearly loved his mother and father and always afforded them the utmost respect. Rick clearly was a product of both parents. He held great admiration for his dad – especially his discipline, physical and mental toughness and enormous work ethic. He acquired his love for food eating his mom's truly exceptional home cooking. He learned early on that the price for eating well was cleaning-up the kitchen. Along with his brothers and sister he embraced American values and reflected the sense of character inherent in the Armstrong name.
Rick knew how to make himself at home anywhere and everywhere. And since his affinity for family was ever-present it always seemed natural when he quickly assimilated into yet another new clan. He was a very sensitive man who cared deeply for others. He had a giant heart and always was quick to lend a hand. He truly was one-of-a-kind with a big, warm, infectious personality. Rick loved visiting, roaring with laughter, and telling the long version of the short story. He wore a big wry smile. He was never afraid to be the life of the party and always did whatever he could to get the party going and keep it going.
He loved everything Stillwater – especially the cute cowgirls, the parties and the Pokes – but he also appreciated the beautiful campus. He loved cars – especially red Corvettes which he called his "Little Red Lady's". He loved classic country music – especially Emmylou Harris – ice hockey – and hot sauce. For about a decade in the late 1970's his faithful dog "Panache" was his constant companion. It was an extra tough hit when time took his beloved puppy.
Rick was a handsome man and always wanted to make sure he was looking good. His sense of personal style began to develop in high school selling apparel at Clarke's Good Clothes. Later in life, if his jeans and colorful shirts didn't stand at attention on return from the cleaners then they just didn't have enough starch. He had a great head of hair. He also was quite fond of his moustache and was especially pleased showing you what could be accomplished with a little wax.
But what truly defined this man was the massive artistic ability he so skillfully applied in concert with his love of every detail involved in creating a unique and pleasing landscape. Rick was a super talent. He could imagine it, design it, construct it, maintain it, or rescue it and leave it more beautiful than ever before. His love of plants came from his mom who had a true green-thumb. She welcomed guests to her sunroom on the back porch of the family home and surrounded them with all manner of healthy and colorful greenery. Fran willingly handed over the yard to Rick to use as his early R&D lab and she thoroughly enjoyed his creations there.
Rick was most at peace with ink on his hands and dirt under his finger nails. He had a truly artful imagination, an incredible command of color, and saw endless possibilities in every piece of land. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of soil, plant materials, grading, irrigation and drainage across multiple climates. And, with Rick Armstrong, shade wasn't enough – it had to be "dapple" shade. His pruning skills were legendary and his shears were always close at hand.
He loved to draw and was a very accomplished illustrator. He often shared this special talent doing whimsical or highly-personalized drawings, cards and notes. Over many years he quickly sketched thousands of interpretations of his original character "Fred". While others in his profession moved to computer assisted drawings Rick continued doing what very few others could. His peers stood in awe of his ability. In 1967, Rick met his lifelong best friend Bruce Anderson in a high school drafting class. They soon became inseparable, and eventually, their lives became completely intertwined. They stayed close for 47 years. Each brought others into the life they shared which continuously expanded and strengthened their circle. In the Armstrong family, Bruce is known as the "brother from another mother" – and the Armstrong and Anderson offspring are extending the bond shared by their fathers.
Rick was preceded in death by his mother, Fran (aka "Babe"), his Father, Lowell (aka "Ace"), and then his son Nick in October 2013 which was a devastating blow. He is survived by his brother Steve and fiancée Leigh Lever of North Myrtle Beach, SC; brother Chris and his wife Joan of Tulsa; sister Lorie of Durango, CO; son Andrew of Tempe, AZ; daughter, Sara of Gig Harbor, WA and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Scouting always has been an integral part of the Armstrong family. Rick was very proud to have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was involved in scouting in both Oklahoma and Arizona. The family asks that donations in Rick's honor be made to Boy Scouts of America, Indian Nations Council, 4925 South Garnett Rd., Tulsa, OK 74146. We are enormously grateful for the "Yee Haw" he brought to all our lives and will miss him immensely.