Richard William Fairhurst, 72, left his pain behind in this world early on the morning of July 1, 2011, with the love of his life, wife Carol by his side. His daughter Cindy was also present. Richard was recently diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and was transported from Coeur d’Alene to Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle.  

Richard was born May 30, 1939, in Watsonville, Calif., to the late Edna Stroh Fairhurst Osterberg of North Dakota and the late Richard Howard Fairhurst of Swinton, Manchester, England. At the age of 11 Richard moved with his family from Morgan Hill to Santa Cruz, Calif., where he attended local schools, graduating from Santa Cruz High in 1957.

Richard attended Cabrillo College in Aptos, Calif., and was a member of one of the first graduating classes (1960) with an associate degree in math, science and engineering, with a second degree in 1968. He also majored in engineering at Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, Calif. He held numerous certifications from Idaho and California for advanced training in water treatment and distribution. He was also a member of Santa Cruz County water policy planning task force, water manager’s association and water advisory commission; Cabrillo College advisory committee on construction and civil technologies; member executive board and president, Santa Cruz city employees association and Treasurer and office manager of Santa Cruz city employees credit union.  

Richard’s first position as a Design Draftsman was with Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Sunnyvale, Calif., from 1960-1962. He joined the city of Santa Cruz as a draftsman in 1962 and held a variety of supervisory and engineering design positions in the city water department until 1981 when he left the city to supervise the construction of roads, sewers and other public works construction projects for The Road Company in Santa Cruz. After a brief stint as a self-employed general engineering contractor, Richard returned to public service for 11 years beginning in 1982 as general manager for the Central Water District in Aptos.  

PlumbCo Supply Inc. began Richard’s North Idaho employment experience in 1994. From 1995 to 1999 Richard worked for the City of Rathdrum reviewing improvement plans and inspecting construction projects for the Public Works Department. In 1999 Richard became district manager of North Kootenai Water District in Hayden. After his retirement from the water district in 2006, Richard maintained a position on the district’s board of directors until 2010.

Richard convinced his wife to leave the hustle and bustle of busy city life in California for the relative quiet and the beauty of the four very distinctive seasons he loved in Idaho in 1993. It took 2-3 years for their dream home, which he designed, to be completed with both of them doing a large portion of the work themselves.

Richard loved home improvement projects, working in the garden, dabbling in finances, unraveling the mysteries of his family genealogy, visits with family, political “discussions” with his daughter and numerous travels to the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada and the continental United States. A trip to the Azores with Richard’s brother David and wife Lucy was enjoyed a couple years ago and April of this year saw Richard and Carol in Hawaii.

Richard is survived by his wife of nearly 36 years, Carol (Limandri) Fairhurst of Coeur d’Alene; daughter Cindy Fairhurst-Thorpe and Danny of Ben Lomond, Calif.; son Steven Fairhurst of Santa Rosa, Calif.; grandson Brian Fairhurst of Ben Lomond, Calif.; brother David Fairhurst and Lucy of Westport, Mass.; sister Linda (Fairhurst) Swart and Randy of Santa Cruz; stepfather William (Bud) Osterberg of Santa Cruz; brother-in-law Greg Limandri and JerrySue of Worley; sister-in-law Valerie (Limandri) Gordon and Bob of Hollister, Calif.; sister-in-law Deb (Limandri) Topping and Mark of Eureka, Calif.; sister-in-law Katie (Limandri) Burke and Paul of Coeur d’Alene; first wife and mother of his children, Barbara (Brannan) Rebuck and Larry of Mesa, Ariz.; and numerous multi-generational nieces and nephews all of whom will miss his sense of humor, quick wit, ready smile and occasional pinch of the cheek.

For all who knew Richard, it will come as no surprise that he requested there be no funeral services.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 625 E. Haycraft, Coeur d’Alene. A reception will follow in the Hospitality Room of the church. Private inurnment will be at St. Pius X Parish in Coeur d’Alene.