Richard Edwin Felts was born in Dalhart, Texas, the third and last child of Charlie and Benna Felts. After graduating form high school in Farwell, Texas. he attended Abilene Christian College for a short time, where he met his future bride. He married Dolores "Doe" Richardson on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1958, in Nocona, Texas. To this union was born one daughter, Tracy.
Dick continued his college education at ENMU in Portales, where he received his Bachelor's and Master's degree in Music Education. While going to his first job interview Dick drove through Melrose, New Mexico, at which time Doe stated, "Wouldn't you hate to live in a little nothing town like this?" Well, his first job ended up being in Melrose. Dick taught band for more than 40 years throughtout Texas and New Mexico. He loved teaching beginning band and seeing the kids catch the love of music. He was also gifted in taking a run-down or non-existent band program and building it into an award-winning program.
Dick taught at many band camps and judged many Solo and Ensemble contests. Many of his students performed in All-Region and All-State bands. In 1978 the Big Blue Crew of Goddard High School in Roswell, New Mexico was the All-State Honor Band. The schools he taught at included Melrose, New Mexico; Whiteface and Crane, Texas; Jal and Roswell, New Mexico; Mesquite (West Mesquite HS) and Lake Dallas, Texas; Ruidoso, New Mexico; Pecos and Corsicana, Texas; and lastly Gallup and Tohatchi, New Mexico.
In 2000, Dick retired from teaching in Texas and retired in New Mexico in 2001. He returned to teaching in 2003 and retired again.....well he retired so many times, the count has been lost. In 2007 he did substitute teaching, completely "retiring" in 2008.
Dicks' hobbies included golfing and jigsaw puzzles. he spent much of his time transferring LP's and" reel to reel" tapes to CD. He also enjoyed Barbershop music. While in Jal, one summer was spent building a TV from a kit, which made the move to Roswell.
Dick is preceded in death by his father , Charlie Felts, and his wife of 35 years, Doe. he leaves to cherish his memory, his daughter, Tracy Gray, a brother, Tex (Karole) Felts, a sister, Kayla (Warren) Skelton; a brother -in - law, Dennis (Susan) Richardson; three nephews and five nieces, many "grandchildren" from SwCC; and a host of band director friends and church family.

The prededing is from the obituary that Tracy prepared. We also heard reflections from family and friends about Dicks life and music included "Kiss Away the Pain", "How great Thou Art", "I surrender All", "Happy Song."

The president of the Navajo Nation , "Brother" Chinle, during the time of reflections shared with us the following.
(This is a paraphrase.) "Being the leader of the Navaho Nation is a thankless job and Dick was always there to speak a kind word to me when I needed it. I believe that you can listen to the thunder of the lighting, the patter of the rain and the blowing of the wind, and you will hear his voice and feel his presence.