LIVE OAK -- Molly Richardson, patron saint of the county's sick, injured and abandoned wildlife, died Saturday after a brief illness. She was 85.
Born in India with British parents she came to America by way of New Zealand, Richardson settled in Pacific Grove, where she was a school teacher. But her retirement and a move to Live Oak would bring a second career, converting a home into a hub for Native Animal Rescue, a network of big-hearted and often brave volunteers nursing pelicans, song birds, raccoons, possums, bats, foxes and even skunks back to health.
"It wasn't just about the animals. She always commented that she would see the greatest part of humanity here," said daughter Eve Egan, sitting in Richardson's expansive backyard. "There would be a big motorcycle guy with a leather jacket on who would bring these baby pigeons that he'd rescued."
Richardson's home was a kaleidoscope of flowers, birds, player flags and people. She held court there -- sometimes nodding to her Anglo-Indian heritage with high tea and a few bars of "God Save the Queen" -- and was surrounded by critters, converting an outdoor laundry building into a clinic.
"She was talking (recently) with her family in New Zealand, and I overheard her say, 'I don't know if there's a heaven, but it couldn't be any better than the life I've had right here," son-in-law Frank Schmit said. "She said, 'I just love this backyard, and I don't need to go anywhere else. I'm very happy here.'"
The 30-year-old Native Animal Rescue was first operated out of the local animal shelter. But when it was set to close 22 years ago, Richardson moved it into her home. She took any animal less than 40 pounds and was a voracious recruiter of volunteers, some of whom strolled in off the street: Richardson's door was always open.
Despite no formal training, Richardson became a respected figure in the loose affiliation of wildlife rehabilitators. She first volunteered after the family cat caught a bird, and birds remained her passion.
"She learned from scratch. I think she and Nathan took much more of a mom and pop approach to it," said Jay Holcomb, director of Fairfield-based International Bird Rescue, referring to Richardson's 40-year partner. "But she was never afraid to reach out for help from other people."
One of Richardson's last wishes was for Native Animal Rescue to continue.
"Literally on her death bed, she wanted to talk to me about fawns," said Michele McCarthy, a Boulder Creek resident who helps care for mammals. "Native Animal Rescue was her baby, and she wanted to make sure Native Animal Rescue continued."
Richardson was also a connector of people, a prolific favor-asker and a source of inspiration to those who happened into her very big orbit.
"When I think of Molly, I think of strength and inspiration and overcoming all odds," said Monique Smith Lee, who takes in bats and skunks for the group. "She had an intrinsic kindness about her. She was very accepting of everybody. She knew everybody's problems and she was always there for them to talk to."
"Working with wildlife is very rewarding but still can be very sad, with some animals that won't make it. She was always a shoulder to cry on," said Boulder Creek's Vikki Krupp, who has volunteered for nearly two decades. "She was a true gem. She will be missed."
Richardson leaves behind four children, six grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Her family plans to return her ashes to her native India.
Born in India with British parents she came to America by way of New Zealand, Richardson settled in Pacific Grove, where she was a school teacher. But her retirement and a move to Live Oak would bring a second career, converting a home into a hub for Native Animal Rescue, a network of big-hearted and often brave volunteers nursing pelicans, song birds, raccoons, possums, bats, foxes and even skunks back to health.
"It wasn't just about the animals. She always commented that she would see the greatest part of humanity here," said daughter Eve Egan, sitting in Richardson's expansive backyard. "There would be a big motorcycle guy with a leather jacket on who would bring these baby pigeons that he'd rescued."
Richardson's home was a kaleidoscope of flowers, birds, player flags and people. She held court there -- sometimes nodding to her Anglo-Indian heritage with high tea and a few bars of "God Save the Queen" -- and was surrounded by critters, converting an outdoor laundry building into a clinic.
"She was talking (recently) with her family in New Zealand, and I overheard her say, 'I don't know if there's a heaven, but it couldn't be any better than the life I've had right here," son-in-law Frank Schmit said. "She said, 'I just love this backyard, and I don't need to go anywhere else. I'm very happy here.'"
The 30-year-old Native Animal Rescue was first operated out of the local animal shelter. But when it was set to close 22 years ago, Richardson moved it into her home. She took any animal less than 40 pounds and was a voracious recruiter of volunteers, some of whom strolled in off the street: Richardson's door was always open.
Despite no formal training, Richardson became a respected figure in the loose affiliation of wildlife rehabilitators. She first volunteered after the family cat caught a bird, and birds remained her passion.
"She learned from scratch. I think she and Nathan took much more of a mom and pop approach to it," said Jay Holcomb, director of Fairfield-based International Bird Rescue, referring to Richardson's 40-year partner. "But she was never afraid to reach out for help from other people."
One of Richardson's last wishes was for Native Animal Rescue to continue.
"Literally on her death bed, she wanted to talk to me about fawns," said Michele McCarthy, a Boulder Creek resident who helps care for mammals. "Native Animal Rescue was her baby, and she wanted to make sure Native Animal Rescue continued."
Richardson was also a connector of people, a prolific favor-asker and a source of inspiration to those who happened into her very big orbit.
"When I think of Molly, I think of strength and inspiration and overcoming all odds," said Monique Smith Lee, who takes in bats and skunks for the group. "She had an intrinsic kindness about her. She was very accepting of everybody. She knew everybody's problems and she was always there for them to talk to."
"Working with wildlife is very rewarding but still can be very sad, with some animals that won't make it. She was always a shoulder to cry on," said Boulder Creek's Vikki Krupp, who has volunteered for nearly two decades. "She was a true gem. She will be missed."
Richardson leaves behind four children, six grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Her family plans to return her ashes to her native India.
LIVE OAK -- Molly Richardson, patron saint of the county's sick, injured and abandoned wildlife, died Saturday after a brief illness. She was 85.
Born in India with British parents she came to America by way of New Zealand, Richardson settled in Pacific Grove, where she was a school teacher. But her retirement and a move to Live Oak would bring a second career, converting a home into a hub for Native Animal Rescue, a network of big-hearted and often brave volunteers nursing pelicans, song birds, raccoons, possums, bats, foxes and even skunks back to health.
"It wasn't just about the animals. She always commented that she would see the greatest part of humanity here," said daughter Eve Egan, sitting in Richardson's expansive backyard. "There would be a big motorcycle guy with a leather jacket on who would bring these baby pigeons that he'd rescued."
Richardson's home was a kaleidoscope of flowers, birds, player flags and people. She held court there -- sometimes nodding to her Anglo-Indian heritage with high tea and a few bars of "God Save the Queen" -- and was surrounded by critters, converting an outdoor laundry building into a clinic.
"She was talking (recently) with her family in New Zealand, and I overheard her say, 'I don't know if there's a heaven, but it couldn't be any better than the life I've had right here," son-in-law Frank Schmit said. "She said, 'I just love this backyard, and I don't need to go anywhere else. I'm very happy here.'"
The 30-year-old Native Animal Rescue was first operated out of the local animal shelter. But when it was set to close 22 years ago, Richardson moved it into her home. She took any animal less than 40 pounds and was a voracious recruiter of volunteers, some of whom strolled in off the street: Richardson's door was always open.
Despite no formal training, Richardson became a respected figure in the loose affiliation of wildlife rehabilitators. She first volunteered after the family cat caught a bird, and birds remained her passion.
"She learned from scratch. I think she and Nathan took much more of a mom and pop approach to it," said Jay Holcomb, director of Fairfield-based International Bird Rescue, referring to Richardson's 40-year partner. "But she was never afraid to reach out for help from other people."
One of Richardson's last wishes was for Native Animal Rescue to continue.
"Literally on her death bed, she wanted to talk to me about fawns," said Michele McCarthy, a Boulder Creek resident who helps care for mammals. "Native Animal Rescue was her baby, and she wanted to make sure Native Animal Rescue continued."
Richardson was also a connector of people, a prolific favor-asker and a source of inspiration to those who happened into her very big orbit.
"When I think of Molly, I think of strength and inspiration and overcoming all odds," said Monique Smith Lee, who takes in bats and skunks for the group. "She had an intrinsic kindness about her. She was very accepting of everybody. She knew everybody's problems and she was always there for them to talk to."
"Working with wildlife is very rewarding but still can be very sad, with some animals that won't make it. She was always a shoulder to cry on," said Boulder Creek's Vikki Krupp, who has volunteered for nearly two decades. "She was a true gem. She will be missed."
Richardson leaves behind four children, six grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Her family plans to return her ashes to her native India.
Born in India with British parents she came to America by way of New Zealand, Richardson settled in Pacific Grove, where she was a school teacher. But her retirement and a move to Live Oak would bring a second career, converting a home into a hub for Native Animal Rescue, a network of big-hearted and often brave volunteers nursing pelicans, song birds, raccoons, possums, bats, foxes and even skunks back to health.
"It wasn't just about the animals. She always commented that she would see the greatest part of humanity here," said daughter Eve Egan, sitting in Richardson's expansive backyard. "There would be a big motorcycle guy with a leather jacket on who would bring these baby pigeons that he'd rescued."
Richardson's home was a kaleidoscope of flowers, birds, player flags and people. She held court there -- sometimes nodding to her Anglo-Indian heritage with high tea and a few bars of "God Save the Queen" -- and was surrounded by critters, converting an outdoor laundry building into a clinic.
"She was talking (recently) with her family in New Zealand, and I overheard her say, 'I don't know if there's a heaven, but it couldn't be any better than the life I've had right here," son-in-law Frank Schmit said. "She said, 'I just love this backyard, and I don't need to go anywhere else. I'm very happy here.'"
The 30-year-old Native Animal Rescue was first operated out of the local animal shelter. But when it was set to close 22 years ago, Richardson moved it into her home. She took any animal less than 40 pounds and was a voracious recruiter of volunteers, some of whom strolled in off the street: Richardson's door was always open.
Despite no formal training, Richardson became a respected figure in the loose affiliation of wildlife rehabilitators. She first volunteered after the family cat caught a bird, and birds remained her passion.
"She learned from scratch. I think she and Nathan took much more of a mom and pop approach to it," said Jay Holcomb, director of Fairfield-based International Bird Rescue, referring to Richardson's 40-year partner. "But she was never afraid to reach out for help from other people."
One of Richardson's last wishes was for Native Animal Rescue to continue.
"Literally on her death bed, she wanted to talk to me about fawns," said Michele McCarthy, a Boulder Creek resident who helps care for mammals. "Native Animal Rescue was her baby, and she wanted to make sure Native Animal Rescue continued."
Richardson was also a connector of people, a prolific favor-asker and a source of inspiration to those who happened into her very big orbit.
"When I think of Molly, I think of strength and inspiration and overcoming all odds," said Monique Smith Lee, who takes in bats and skunks for the group. "She had an intrinsic kindness about her. She was very accepting of everybody. She knew everybody's problems and she was always there for them to talk to."
"Working with wildlife is very rewarding but still can be very sad, with some animals that won't make it. She was always a shoulder to cry on," said Boulder Creek's Vikki Krupp, who has volunteered for nearly two decades. "She was a true gem. She will be missed."
Richardson leaves behind four children, six grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Her family plans to return her ashes to her native India.
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