Richard Alexander Thomson Jr., 61, of Elyria passed away Monday June 8, 2015 at the Ames Family Hospice in Westlake, Ohio following a lengthy illness. He was born March 25, 1954 in Libertyville, Illinois and attended Mundelein High School. He was a devoted husband, wonderful father, loving grandfather and great-grandfather and a talented artist. Richard served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam era. Following this service, he joined the Countryside Fire Protection District in Vernon Hills, Countryside Fire Department in rural Mundelein, Illinois and then established himself as one of Chicago's most energetic and progressive hair designers of Chicago's downtown and Gold Coast salons and in Kansas City. During this more than 25 year career, Richard worked with national and international companies as an educator, national trainer and platform artist and had been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Jenny Jones Show. Moving to the Cleveland area, Richard was a co-founder of an artist collective, 3 Door Studios, in Oberlin, Ohio and continued his legacy as an artist. Richard was known for his found object assemblage shrines, sculptures, figurative oil paintings, and jewelry. Survivors include his wife Stephanie (nee Busby) , daughter Emily of Elyria, sons Jeremy (Susan) Bennett of Madison Alabama, Mason and Evan both of Elyria, grandchildren Brandon, Nicholas, Zachary, Nathaniel and Brianna, great-grandchild Asher North, sister Sandra (Lawrence) Simonis of Mundelein, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents Richard A. Sr. and Johanna (nee Cobb). A gathering of friends and family will take place on Sunday, June 21, 2015 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at The Feve Bar and Grill, 30 South Main Street, Oberlin, Ohio. Family will receive friends at the Kristan Funeral Home, 219 West Maple Avenue, Mundelein, Illinois, on Sunday, June 28, 2015 from 10:00am until 12noon, with a Memorial Service at 12:00noon. Memorial contributions are suggested to support the R Thomson Assemblages Memorial Fund for Young Artists. Donations may be made at Huntington National Bank or mailed to 213 Pinehurst Avenue, Elyria, OH 44035. Arrangements were entrusted to the Laubenthal-Mercado Funeral Home and Lorain County Cremation Service of Elyria. 440-322-4626. Online condolences may be expressed at www.laubenthalmercado.com Service: The Feve Bar & Grill Sunday June 21, 2015 5-7PM , & Kristan Funeral Home Sunday June 28, 2015 12 Noon The Feve Bar & Grill & Kristan Funeral Home Mundelein, Illinois Visitation: Feve Bar & Grill Sunday June 21, 2015 5-7 PM & Kristan Funeral Home Sunday June 28, 2015 10AM-12Noon Feve Bar & Grill 5-7 PM & Kristan Funeral Home 12Noon