Rick Hampton

Ricky Dean Hampton, son of the late RE and Gerrea (Kirkland) Hampton, was born July 8, 1957, in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He passed away on August 18, 2026, at his home in Mountain Grove, Missouri, at the age of 69.

Rick graduated with the Mountain Grove High School class of 1975 and began his life in law enforcement shortly after. At different times, he held the position of Assistant Chief of Police in the cities of Cabool and Ozark. After that, he decided to serve his country in the United States Army for four years. While in the military he spent time in both Italy and Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He treasured his time in law enforcement and the military. He also spent some time working at Hutchens steel plant in Mansfield and Wal-Mart in Mountain Grove.

Rick was married to Lisa Cooper and then later to Emma Welton. He enjoyed anything involving being outdoors, especially shooting guns and riding motorcycles when he was younger. He also enjoyed building custom guns and was a talented, self-taught gunsmith in his spare time.

Besides his parents, Rick was preceded in death by one nephew, Shawn Michael Karvonen; one uncle, Ray Kirkland; one aunt, Geraldine (Kirkland) Blacksher; and one cousin, Barbara Cauldwell.

Rick is survived by one sister, Michelle Hampton and her husband, Tim Hillgamyer of Ozark, Missouri; one niece, Lauren (Karvonen) Vazquez and her husband, Bryan, of Ozark; one nephew, Tyler Karvonen and his fiancé, Anna Conaway, of Ozark; one great-nephew, Ezra Vazquez of Ozark; three cousins, Judy Anderson, Susan Hedrick, and Teresa Stewart; and many other relatives and friends who will miss him greatly.