Roll Call Tribute

Richard Earl "Dick" Counts 

September 1, 1932 - January 28, 2025 

Richard Earl (Dick) Counts went home to be with the Lord on January 28, 2025 at 92 years old. He died from natural causes in Tyler, Texas and will be deeply missed by his family and friends. Dick was born on September 1, 1932 in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from high school in Palestine, Texas. He then attended Texas A&M University for a couple years before being drafted in the Army during the Korean War where he worked as a helicopter mechanic. After getting out of the service, he worked in the oil and gas industry as a seismograph drilling foreman all over the western United States before moving back to Texas. Most of his life was spent in the Tyler area where he was employed by Smith Tank until retirement.

At his farm in Whitehouse, he raised cattle and started with his first hive of bees. His knowledge and love of beekeeping increased, and he was very involved in his retirement years running his bee company near Arp where he held beekeeping training, built many observation hives in Tyler and surrounding areas, and was often called out to remove bees from someone’s home. He was the founder and President of the East Texas Beekeepers Association and later became Executive Director where he served as point of contact for the media and frequently spoke to schools and organizations on the significance of bees.

Also important to Dick was his church family at Green Acres Baptist Church where he served as an usher, was a member of the Seekers Connect bible study, and enjoyed his work there in the coffee bar.

In addition, he had good neighbors and friends in all walks of life and always enjoyed a good game of cards or dominos. He was hard to beat.

Preceding in death were his father Velman Earl Counts, his mother Claudia Counts Eichelberger, his stepfather Roy Eichelberger, his sister Shirley Roper, and his brother John Robert Counts.

His loving memory lives on with his daughter and son-in-law, Stephany and David King, grandson Brian King (Ashley), his nephews and nieces, and his many friends.

Private burial services to be held in Slocum, Texas.