Richard Nelson Henson, Age 66 of Symsonia, KY, passed away Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Lourdes Hospital ER, Paducah, KY.
Richard was a teacher, principal and a coach throughout his career in education serving in Western Kentucky and Missouri. He was best known as “The Broom Man” and was the 3rd generation family broom maker and the owner of Henson Broom Shop and General Store in Symsonia.
He took over the family business in 1989 after the last words he heard his grandfather say, “If you learn how to make a broom you will always have a job.”
Those words became his motivation to expand the business into making over a dozen different styles of brooms and opening a country store remincesent of the one he visited with his grandfather Henson when he was a little boy.
His success includes selling his brooms throughout the United States and several foreign countries. Richard was also a talented speaker and story teller, and merged his broom making creativity with motivational “in costumes” on stage shows in places such as Club Celebrity in Branson, Missouri, as well as over the state of Kentucky, Tennessee and southern states.
The Broom Man is survived by his wife, Barbara, of Symsonia, his father, Rollie Nelson Henson, of Benton KY, one son, Richard Nathan Henson of Fargo, ND, two daughters, Allison Forness and husband Eric, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Emily Jones and husband James of Fargo, ND and three step sons, Derrick Legerent, Daron Legerent, and Chad Legerent. One brother, Solon Michael Henson, of Murray, KY, one sister, Cindy Henson Yates and husband Craig of Ledbetter, KY., three grandchildren, Aiden and Cody Jones and Kaylie Forness.. He is also survived by aunts, uncles and several nieces and nephews, as well as countless friends and business associates.
Richard was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Rollie “Bootsie” and Tilene Duncan Henson, Solon Earl and Lilah Mae Wyatt, his mother, Geraldine “Gerry” Scott, and his beloved daughter, Stephanie Renee Henson.
The Broom Man will be missed by all who truly knew his whit, humor and passion for his family life, his country and his faith.
He was a member of Family Church of Christ, Benton, KY.
Visitation will be Wednesday, April 6, from 5-8 pm at Collier Funeral Home, Benton, KY and the funeral will be held Thursday, April 7, at 11 am at Collier Funeral Home with Paul Wingfield officiating. Burial will follow at Provine Cemetery in Benton, KY.