STATELINE, Idaho — Jordan Embree and her father, Richard, had plans to go on a motorcycle ride and fishing trip together. However, everything changed when Richard was struck .
Jordan recalled her father’s selflessness at the scene.
“He wanted to make sure that we were okay,” Jordan said. “When we heard the gunshots, he said go, leave me. We were like no we’re not leaving you, but he said go, you need to leave now.”
Jordan described her father as a caring, loving man who was proud of his family.
“The nursing staff, when we got to the ICU, was telling us that he was talking about us all morning, the whole time we were there, just telling about us and how much he loved us,” Jordan said.
In the days following the accident, Jordan and her family spent time with Richard, doing things he loved, like watching the Mariners game.
“They watched my dad’s favorite player do a grand slam,” Jordan said. “And he was getting too excited in the ICU so some of his nurses were like, ‘your blood pressure and your heart rate, it’s a little too high.'”
Despite the circumstances, the family made sure to create lasting memories with Richard. They also planned to create new memories — a promise they plan to keep.
“Things that we were going to do when he got out,” Jordan said. “And we obviously can’t do them with him, but we’ll make sure to go fishing and go riding like he would have wanted.”
Jordan also reflected on his lighthearted spirit.
“I will say he was making jokes until the end,” Jordain said. He was a stoic, funny guy. He had all the jokes in the world.”
Her mental picture of her father as a down-to-earth guy dates back to her earliest memories.
“I have fond memories of throwing my pillow at him in the morning, and him just giggling,” Jordan said.
Jordan said Richard will be missed but not forgotten.
“His light will definitely not stop shining now that he is gone,” Jordan said.
Jordan also asked for community thoughts and prayers as she and her brothers make arrangements.
Instead of a funeral, Jordan and her brothers plan to hold a celebration of life on July 19.
