Richard Allen Meyers

Richard Allen Meyers died on February 07, 2022 in Salem Oregon, in an officer involved shooting that also claimed the life of his beloved dog and best friend, Zeeva. He was 40 years old. 

Richard was born on April 14, 1981 in Stuttgart, Germany, while his father was stationed there with the U.S. Army. He was the second child to his parents, following sister Katie, born in 1979. Shortly after his birth, his family returned to their hometown of Milwaukie Oregon, where he would spend the the majority of his life. 

As a kid, Richard loved cars, toys and music. That love followed him throughout his life. 

As he aged, he developed a very close bond with both of his grandmothers, Katie Fisher and Marie Meyers, as he spent a good portion of his childhood with them, and learned through them about faith and love. 

Richard had one brother, Gary Jr, who was born in 1987, and he loved having a brother to chase around and watch WWE wrestling with. 

In 1993, when he was 12, baby sister Rachel was born. As a teen, he would take her in a stroller to the mall, and corner market, and with a smile stretched from ear to ear, was eager to show her to everyone and tell them all about his cute baby sister. Later in life, the two would become very close, as they spent more time together and became strong supports in each other’s lives.  

He would soon feel that pride again, as he introduced his own children to the world, with that same eager smile. He was always proud of his children and younger siblings, as well as his nieces and nephews later in life. 

As an adult, Richard prided himself on helping those less fortunate than himself, on making sure others were ok, on his love for his family, his faith in God, and on being a great mechanic, collector and handyman. He enjoyed projects like roofing, painting houses and building remote control cars. He married his wife, Twyla in April, 2017. They later separated in 2020.

In more recent adulthood, he struggled with homelessness and mental health. Although struggling himself, he still did what he could to help others in his community. He resided in his car at Northgate Park in Salem for the last months of his life, where he would look out for other houseless people, he would share a meal when he could or lend an ear to his fellow struggling human. He would run his remote control cars at the park, work on his Mercedes Benz, and play with his dog, whom he loved like a daughter.

Although he struggled in life from a young age, Richard always tried to make those around him laugh, and was known to tell others how wonderful their smile was. He was a gentle soul who deserved much more out of life than what he received. His smile and light will be missed by many. Our greatest hope is that he may finally find peace. 

Richard is survived by his children, Trinity, Julie, and Tyler, his wife Twyla Gordon, his parents Gary Meyers and Kathy Inman, his siblings Katie Meyers, Gary Jr, and Rachel Coble, his nieces Hailey and Scarlett, and nephews Corey, Michael and Wyett. 

“In the arms of the angel, may you find some comfort here.”

Memorial services are currently in place for Saturday March 26th, 2022 Starting at 6pm at Northgate park in Salem. 

We are inviting the community and especially those nearby struggling with homelessness, to come have a nice meal and pickup a care package with some toiletries and other necessities. All while honoring Richard, sharing a memory and stories you may have with him.