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Slain Utah rail worker’s family offers forgiveness to killer

Lorie Ricks lingers for a moment at the casket of her husband, Utah Transit Authority electrician Kay Ricks, 63, who was laid to rest Saturday, May 28, 2016, at Lehi City Cemetery. Ricks served in the Navy and was a veteran of the Vietnam War, 4 years active duty and 2 years in the Naval Reserve and 8 years in the Utah National Guard. Utah police continue gathering evidence that could link two men who fled to Wyoming, after tying up and assaulting a mother and her four teenage daughters in a Centerville home on May 10, to the slaying of Ricks employee whose body was found in rural Wyoming. (Leah Hogsten /The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
Lorie Ricks lingers for a moment at the casket of her husband, Utah Transit Authority electrician Kay Ricks, 63, who was laid to rest Saturday, May 28, 2016, at Lehi City Cemetery. Ricks served in the Navy and was a veteran of the Vietnam War, 4 years active duty and 2 years in the Naval Reserve and 8 years in the Utah National Guard. Utah police continue gathering evidence that could link two men who fled to Wyoming, after tying up and assaulting a mother and her four teenage daughters in a Centerville home on May 10, to the slaying of Ricks employee whose body was found in rural Wyoming. (Leah Hogsten /The Salt Lake Tribune via AP) Lorie Ricks lingers for a moment at the casket of her husband, Utah Transit Authority electrician Kay Ricks, 63, who was laid to rest Saturday, May 28, 2016, at Lehi City Cemetery. Ricks served in the Navy and was a veteran of the Vietnam War, 4 years active duty and 2 years in the Naval Reserve and 8 years in the Utah National Guard. Utah police continue gathering evidence that could link two men who fled to Wyoming, after tying up and assaulting a mother and her four teenage daughters in a Centerville home on May 10, to the slaying of Ricks employee whose body was found in rural Wyoming. (Leah Hogsten /The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)

By Associated Press 3 min read

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Hundreds of family, friends and colleagues remembered a slain Utah rail worker Saturday while also offering forgiveness to his killer.

The three sons of 63-year-old Kay Ricks occasionally expressed anger at his death but also recalled their father’s forgiving nature. Wynn Ricks said he knew his father forgave whoever killed him and was waiting for others to follow in his footsteps.

Their father was someone who enjoyed fixing things for people for free and urged his sons to do the same.

“If I can have half the love and determination my dad had, I will turn out to be a great man,” Joel Ricks said, according to the Daily Herald in Provo (http://bit.ly/1NViXQX ).

Relatives also touched on Ricks’ quirky humor and love for his wife, Lorie.