BREEN, Richard M.

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Thursday, December 04, 2014 Richard M. Breen of Chino Valley, Arizona, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by family Dec. 2, 2014. Richard was born March 4, 1941, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Vincent and Arline Breen. In 1959, Richard graduated from Waltham Senior High School and later joined the U.S. Navy. During his 12 years of service, Richard completed two tours in Vietnam. Richard married Ronda Harris in 1974 and lived in Arizona until relocating to Barstow, California, where they raised their three children. Richard retired from BNSF as a carman in 2002 after 30 years of service. Richard enjoyed photography, Westerns, RV camping, off-road trail-riding in his Jeep, and being Santa Claus to the children of the community. Richard is survived by his wife Ronda; their three children, Scott Breen of Tempe, Arizona, Elizabeth and Joseph Sherman of Victorville, California, and Connie and Seth Knupp of Verona, Wisconsin; six grandchildren; eight siblings, Ruth Breen of Mesa, Arizona, Arline White of Chandler, Arizona, Donald Breen of Cottonwood, Arizona, Vincent Breen Jr. of Anaheim, California, Michelle Eckhard of Merit, Texas, Phyllis Craciun of Mesa, Paul Breen of Humboldt, Arizona, and John Breen of Kingston, New York. The family expresses their gratitude to Steve, Amy and Cathy from Hospice of the Pines for their compassionate and dignified care for Richard in the sunset of his life. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, 2014 at the Northern Arizona VA Chapel. Arrangements by Chino Valley Funeral Home. Information provided by survivors.