Tammy Wynette's Widower, George Richey, Dies at 74

George Richey, widower of the great Tammy Wynette, died on July 31 after a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the Tennessean. The songwriter, producer, music publisher and manager was 74.

 

Richey had songs cut by legendary Country singers George Jones, Merle Haggard, Johnny Horton, Wanda Jackson and many others.

 

Following Wynette’s death on April 6, 1998, Richey was named in a lawsuit filed by the singer’s daughters, who blamed Wynette’s death on her personal physician and Richey. After Wynette’s body was exhumed and an autopsy performed, it was declared that the Country Music Hall of Fame singer died of natural causes.

 

Richey remarried in January 2001 to Sheila Slaughter, an ex-Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. Tim McGraw performed at the small ceremony in College Grove, Tenn., and the couple welcomed a daughter, Tatum, in September of that year.

 

Richey was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetary, near the burial site of Wynette. At his request, no public memorial was held.