Richard Lee Baurs, 80, of La Marque passed away on Sunday, March 30, 2025 in La Marque.  He was born on October 15, 1944 to Elmer and Myrtle Baurs in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Richard joined the Coast Guard right out of high school and was transferred to the Coast Guard base in Galveston in 1964. He met his wife Patricia at First Baptist Church Galveston that same year and they were married there in 1965. In 1970 Richard felt the Lord calling him into full-time Christian service. He attended Howard Payne College and graduated in 1974 and continued his education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he graduated in 1977 with his Masters of Divinity.. After pastoring in Sweetwater, Oklahoma for a couple of years he joined the US Navy Chaplain Corps and served as a Chaplain for 20 years.  Richard retired as a Navy Commander in 1999. Altogether Richard served 27 years in the military. He also pastored five churches in Oklahoma and Texas. He was a member of Arcadia First Baptist Church in Santa Fe.

He is preceded in death by his parents. Richard is survived by his wife of 59 years Patricia Baurs, his daughters; Kimberly Francis (David) and Melissa Cortez (Israel “Cowboy”), sister Eleanor Baurs and brother Jim Baurs (Judy),  his five grandchildren; Payton Gentle (Christian), Makinsey Shimfessel (Casey), David Charles Francis (Rebekah), Rebecca Lawless (Braedon) and Kayleigh Cortez, and two great grandchildren; Everett Shimfessel and Elena Gentle.

A visitation will be on Saturday, April 12, 2025 from 10:00am – 11:00am at Arcadia First Baptist Church in Santa Fe with service following at 11:00am.  Interment will be at Houston National Cemetery at a later date.