Rick Lamphear

Mr. Richard "Rick" Lamphear, age 56, Kingsport, TN, passed away on Saturday, November 30, 2013, due to complications of pulmonary fibrosis. He was born in Manchester, NH and was preceded in death by his father, Richard "Stony" Lamphear; grandparents, Connie and Lee Hines; and grandmother, Mary Dunn.

Rick began his 12-Step recovery on April 17, 1987 and was blessed with many years of happy, meaningful living. He attended East Tennessee State University, earning a Master's Degree in Social Work. Rick also felt truly blessed to be able to serve as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor and social work therapist during his 24-year career in the behavioral health field. He retired from Mountain Home Veteran's Administration Medical Center in May of 2013.

Survivors include his wife and very best friend, Mary Hillman Lamphear; daughters, Maria Lamphear and partner, Michelle Caldwell of Church Hill, TN; Kathy Hurd and fiancé, Jason Smalling of Bluff City, TN; son, Jon Carlosh and wife, Kristen of Johnson City, TN; sister, Kathy Twomey and husband, Mike of Salem, MA: brothers, CW5 Robert "Bob" Lamphear and wife, Diana of Parkville, MO, and Tony Lamphear and partner, Deborah Gault of Gastonia, NC; and special mother, Vickie Meyers

The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 5, 2013 from 5-7:00 pm at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. A memorial service will follow at 7:00 pm with Pastor Art Webb officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.