Richard D. Ussery

Richard Ussery, age 53, passed away on February 25, 2025. He was born on October 25, 1971, in Bakersfield, CA, to Loyd and Virginia Ussery.

Richard grew up in Bakersfield and graduated from North High School in 1990. After high school, he attended California State University, Bakersfield, where he played soccer, one of the great loves of his life, and studied criminal justice. After college, he worked for the Kern County Probation Department for 25 years, where he developed an extended family of coworkers and selflessly protected his community. After retiring, he worked for two years at the City of Bakersfield doing code enforcement work, where he was shown notable kindness and grace during a difficult time in his life.

Athletics defined so much of Richard’s identity. He played baseball, wrestled, and, most beloved of all, played soccer throughout his life. The relationships he built through the sports community were pivotal, and many of his former teammates remained his best friends to this day. His love of soccer also led him to coach for many years, giving him the opportunity to mentor young men and women, including his own children and nieces.

Richard had two children, Mia Ussery (19) and Max Ussery (15), whom he considered among his greatest accomplishments. They brought him limitless pride every day. He married Kerri Ussery in Pismo Beach, CA, on May 5, 2017, and the 10 years that followed were a true blessing from God.

Richard is survived by his wife, Kerri Ussery; his daughter, Mia Ussery; his son, Max Ussery; his daughter, Haley Noriega; his daughter, Brooke McCarthy; and his sons-in-law, Rafael Noriega and Kenji McCarthy. He was deeply loved by many parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and the children he took under his wing, mentored, and called his own along the way.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Loyd Worn Ussery and Evelyn Virginia Ussery.

A funeral service will be held at Valley Baptist Church, 4800 Fruitvale Avenue, on Monday, March 10, at 3 PM. A celebration of life will follow at the church. We welcome all friends and family to join us in honoring the loving, fiery, warrior spirit that is Richard Ussery.