Ricky was the youngest of six children born to Peggy Ann Cassil Borts and Gerald Dean Borts. The other children are: Russell Dean Borts, June 19, 1962; Ronnie Dale Borts, September 12, 1963 - July 25, 1980; Devora Ann Borts Longan, August 16, 1964; Denise Kay Borts Horn, December 1, 1965; Darlene Faye Borts Hayes Patryzkont, January 5, 1969 and last but not least, Ricky Lee Borts, February 21, 1974 - July 1, 2003.

I will never forget the night Ricky was born. We were sent to stay with Grandma (Viola Francis Brizendine Borts) and she was living in California on High Street behind the First Baptist Church. She only had a two bedroom home, but that was okay, we shared beds at home and at Grandmas. It was snowy out and dad happened to be home at the time, (he was an over-the-road truck driver for McGraw-Edison at the time). The phone would ring and we would all get up to see who it was, we were so excited because we knew mom and dad were going to bring home a new brother or sister and we couldn't wait. Well, Grandma got tired of us getting up and she told us if we did not get back in bed and go to sleep she was going to give us a whipping. Well, I don't ever remember any whippin's by Grandma Borts, so we listened to her. When we woke up the next morning she told us we had a new baby brother. Boy, was he spoiled. Spoiled to the core.

He liked wearing bib overalls, and did until the day he died. I remember the winter when he was a year or two old, we had a lot of snow that year and was off school due to the weather quite a bit. He kept wanting to go out and play with all of us, but we didn't want him to. Mom didn't make us, but he sure made up for it when he got old enough.

Rick thought he was going to be a famous bull rider and bare back bronc rider. He tried, but after him and Amanda got together and he was thrown off a bull and hit in the head, she said it was either her or the bulls. Well, he took the bull by the horns and chose Amanda, but he never got over his love of rodeos. Weston Lane was named after Lane Frost, the bullrider who lost his life riding a bull. Rick was also a volunteer fireman for the Moniteau County Rural Fire Department. He loved helping people and had a very funny outlook on life. He had things that bothered him, but never let anyone know it.

It was a sad day when Ricky was killed at work along with three other co-workers. Ricky was married on June 13, 1998 to Amanda Rhiann Hart. Of this marriage, two children were born, Weston Lane Borts on March 8, 2000 in Jefferson City Missouri at Capitol Region Hospital, and Emma Leann Borts, January 7, 2004. Amanda was two months pregnant with Emma when Ricky was killed. I will forever miss him. It hurts me each time Weston tells me that he talks to his daddy and that his daddy tells him he can have a new daddy. Emma will never know the love Ricky had for her. He, like his brother Ronnie, helped everyone and put everyone else first. Even though he is gone, he will never be forgotten. I love you, Ricky!

Love forever, your sister, Denise

Ricky Borts