Some people are defined by the work they do, but Ricky Lynn "Smiley" Flatt was defined by the deep love he had for his family, his lifelong friends, and the land he farmed. At age 70, Ricky passed away peacefully on June 29, 2026, in Flower Mound, Texas. He was a man of boundless energy—a farm boy, a dedicated railroad dispatcher, a master jack-of-all-trades, and above all, a proud father and grandfather. He drew his final breaths with his four children right by his side.

The Heart of a Farmer

Born on October 8, 1955, in Monmouth, Illinois, to John "Jack" Elmer Flatt and Dorothy Jewel Cutliff, Ricky grew up with dirt under his fingernails and a deep love for the land. He spent his childhood and high school years in Alexis, Illinois, learning the values of hard work and grit on the Flatt family farm. It was during his school days in Alexis that he formed a tight-knit circle of lifelong friendships that would endure for decades.

After graduating from Alexis High School in 1973, he pursued higher education, initially attending Black Hawk College before graduating from Western Illinois University in 1977. At WIU, he became a proud member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity—a brotherhood that meant the world to him. "Smiley" was a fiercely proud alumnus, returning with his family for reunions to relive old memories and make new ones to keep those lifelong bonds alive.

True to his love for the land, Ricky returned home after graduation to build his life on the family's legacy. He bought the property next to the family homestead, where he spent his days working the soil and tending to livestock side-by-side with his father, Jack. Dedicated and hardworking from a young age, he also apprenticed at his uncle's business, Flatt's Electric, developing a trade that would benefit him and his community for a lifetime. During these formative years, he married his high school sweetheart, Beth Jones, and together they spent 27 years building a family with four wonderful children.

A Dedicated Career and Life in Texas

In 1980, Ricky began a lifelong career with the Burlington Northern Railroad in Galesburg, Illinois. A hard-earned promotion as a dispatcher for the Santa Fe Railroad took his family to Crystal Lake, Illinois, in 1994. In 1997, another transfer brought them to the railroad's headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, where he settled his family into their home in Flower Mound. Ricky dedicated over 40 years of service to BNSF before his retirement, highly respected by all who worked alongside him for his incredible work ethic and reliability.

The Ultimate Helper and "Big Kid at Heart"

Ricky took full advantage of each day, living life with boundless energy from sunup to sundown. He was an avid runner, known by neighbors who would see him on his daily routes training for the next local competition, including triathlons and the challenging BIX 7 race, which he proudly completed several times. Ricky's loyalty to the Chicago Bears was also unmatched; as a long-time season ticket holder, he wore his team pride for all to see.

But his greatest allegiance was always to his family. More than anything, he was his children's biggest cheerleader, never missing a school event, game, or track meet if he could help it. A true big kid at heart, Ricky loved to goof around with his kids and their friends—whether they were playing basketball, jumping on the trampoline, building massive snow forts, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows at bonfires, or churning homemade ice cream. His son's friends affectionately dubbed him "Ricky Bobby," a fitting title for a man who loved telling corny jokes, pulling lighthearted pranks, and retelling a funny story numerous times just to make everyone laugh. He captured it all as the family historian, rarely seen without a heavy, old-school VHS video camera propped on his shoulder, determined to preserve every single laugh, milestone, and memory on tape.

Ricky was also the neighborhood's ultimate protector and helper. A true jack-of-all-trades, he possessed an encyclopedic mind for how things worked. He could see a household problem coming and know the solution before it even manifested. Using the skills he learned as an electrician, he spent countless hours helping neighbors and friends with free electrical, plumbing, and handyman work, working entirely out of the kindness of his heart.

In 2018, Ricky was diagnosed with ALS. While the disease gradually took hold of his physical strength, his mind remained remarkably sharp. He could vividly recall the finest details of events from decades past, ensure no instruction was ever overlooked, and offer truly brilliant advice. Ultimately, he hoped his exceptional intellect would be his lasting legacy.

Survivors and Legacy

Ricky was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Dorothy, and his brother, Randy "Hog" Flatt. His rich legacy of love and laughter lives on through his surviving brother, Steve Flatt; his four children, Darcie Flatt, Rebecca "Becky" (Ben) Curcio, Dustin (Madeline) Flatt, and Megan (Silviu) Mihalte; and his six adored grandchildren, Zachary, Levi, Ace, Silas, Francesca, and Foster.

Service Details

Texas Funeral Service: Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, 740 Edmonds Ln, Lewisville, TX 75067.
Illinois Memorial Service: An additional memorial service will take place in October 2026 in Alexis, Illinois, where he will finally return home to the community and the soil he always held dear.

In Lieu of Flowers: The family requests that donations be made to the ALS Association to support the fight against the disease he battled with immense dignity.