28 Jul 1978 - 07 Aug 2019
The full service with sound will be up as soon as possible tomorrow morning
Service No: 24934907, Royal Marine Commandos.
Passed away peacefully in his sleep at Cranford Hospice on August 7, 2019. Aged 41 years.
Dearly loved husband of Cherie. Loved step-dad of Rogue, Nuki, Niko, and Sasha.
A service to celebrate Richie’s life will be held at the Salvation Army Citadel, Cnr Warren Street & Avenue Road East, Hastings on Wednesday August 14, 2019 at 2pm followed by a private cremation.
In lieu of flowers a donation to RSA would be appreciated and may be left in the entrance to the service.
Tributes to Richie or messages to his family can be left at www.dunstalls.co.nz or posted to the Byard family C/o PO Box 1055, Napier 4140.
Richard was, is and always will be my son. I was devastated and utterly heartbroken when I heard that he had passed away. We didn't have the easiest of times when he was growing up as we were a single parent family in the 80s. Having said that, I have hundreds of memories of him laughing helplessly and the joy on his face when he got or saw something he thought was awesome.
His life did not take the path that he wished here, and he made the decision to move to New Zealand. When he married Cherie, he not only found a wife but a partner in the truest meaning of the word. She was the love of his life and his soul mate.
She, along with the children, family and friends made him happy, settled, and at peace with himself. He grew into the man he had always wanted to be.
Their life was together was cut cruelly short but hopefully, Cherie and everyone who knew him in his new life can find comfort that the last nine years were the happiest he had
Shocked and saddened to read the news of his passing, I remember him as a happy young boy, full of life and fun. Love to his family at this awful time xxx
Your jokes will be forever missed you had such a great energy ????I'm so sad to see you go so soon ????
Gallow was a great man, i always love talking to kat and him he will be missed. Rest in piece Gallow. with love from King Ekdar.
The livestream failed just before the service started. So absolutely gutted :-( Richard was my eldest nephew, can see him now in so many different situations, from a tiny tot to a grown man, asking in his own special way, 'Aunty Kay.....? So happy he found the place he belonged with Cherie and her family, their mutual friends and all the new friends and family they created together both on and off line. Rest now hunney, will be thinking of you at comicon xxxx
Rich was a fantastic guy. He’s made such a positive impact on my live, creating a world in which I could truly be myself, and meet others who were granted the same thing. He never failed to put a smile on my face, and most importantly he was always there for me. He will truly be missed but never forgotten. Rest in peace, Lord Gallow.
Rich was a great guy. He’s made such a positive impact on my life and he’s been like a father to me, always looking out for us and many others. He will be missed deeply but never forgotten.
My thoughts and prayers to Cherie and her family.
Richard you were such an amazing person I loved playing minecraft with you and ladykat and how much help you gave me when I needed it playing. You will be dearly missed. I will always keep an eye out for ladykat and support her through anything she needs. May you rest in peace x x x love lippy
Rich was an amazing person, he had a major impact on my life by helping me build a career online along with Cherie. I owe a lot to the both of them and it pains me to learn of his passing. I’ll miss him dearly, he was such a great friend that was full of wisdom, experience and the absolute best story teller I have ever met. I love you buddy, rest easy.
Gallow,
You and Kat were both such influential people in my life when I was a reckless teenager and I can't even find the words to say how lucky I feel to have met you both, the pair of you helped me through so much despite never having met me in person, I am heart broken that so much time has gone by without many words between us only to hear that you've joined the rest of the stars in the sky.
You were such a sturdy person that people just gravitated towards you, I'm so glad you and Cherie had those wonderful years together, I just wish you could have had more, you are both Angel's I just wish you hadn't got your wings so soon!
Forever and always, the house of Kinky will live on!
Candice/ Sookie
There are not enough words to describe perfectly how amazing a person Richie was. Cherie and him have been a big part of my life for the past 9 almost 10 years. I love them like family. and have learned so much from their kindness. I wouldn't be who I am today without their love and support, even from afar. There was never a dull moment with Richie, and he made an absolute wonderful person to talk to.
They never tell you how amazing your online friends and family will be, but without a doubt, the closeness is there.
My prayers are with Cherie and the family.
Rich was a wonderful man. He just like Kat helped me realize that I can be myself, make my own decisions, and he taught to not take anything from anyone whether it would be drama, rumors, etc. I considered a close friend whom I could confide in. Rich, I maybe sad that you're gone and it may seem unreal that you are. However I know you're not suffering anymore. You'll be forever in our hearts and you'll be missed.
Rich was such a standup guy. He was funny, caring and brave. Although I didn't know Rich for a long time he never hesitated to have my back and for that I will always be grateful to him. He will be sorely missed and I will forever cherish all the good laughs that we did share.
During his life I’m honoured to have known Richie as LordGallow. Him and Kat have been great friends to me over the years and I’m writing this to remember the great man he was.
Everyone has their internet friends that come and go but somehow Gallow made something more than that, an internet family that I’m so happy to be a part of. Rich created such a warm and welcoming environment on the minecraft server, something that during quite a rough time in my life I really needed. In particular I remember when I moved house my bus always arrived at school super early, leaving me alone and bored every morning. This was until I started messaging Gallow in the mornings and just chatted about silly things that made each day a little bit brighter and a little bit happier.
Hearing about Rich falling ill hit me quite hard, and whilst I’m sure a lot of his friends and family are more affected than I, I was and still am to an extent in disbelief. You never really expect to lose an internet friend because it’s so easy to forget that they are living a life outside of the online world and so such news about their personal life comes as quite the shock of reality. Gallow has shown me what it means to be a man. He has shown me what it means to be myself and he’s shown me how to have fun with life in the server he staffed. I am a forever changed person because of him, because of the virtual family he has given me and no amount of words can express how grateful I am for that. He will be so missed and never forgotten. Thank you LordGallow