Richard K. Penor

Richard "Ricky" Kaufman Penor, age 55, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away on June 26, 2026, leaving behind a world that was undeniably brighter, louder, and funnier for having had him in it.

Born on New Year's Eve, 1970, Ricky came into this world as if he already knew how to make an entrance, and he never stopped. A Little Rock native through and through, he lived his entire life in the city he called home, and that city was all the richer for it.

Ricky was an outdoorsman in the truest sense of the word. He was a devoted hunter, a passionate fisherman, and by all accounts, a world-class frog gigger, a title he earned and wore with great pride. Whether he was in the woods, on the water, or knee-deep in a creek at midnight, Ricky was exactly where he was supposed to be.

Those who knew Ricky knew that his love for animals ran deep. It didn't matter if it had fins, feathers, or four legs; if it was alive, Ricky had a soft spot for it.

He also loved the golf course, and many of his best stories were told there and the stories, oh, the stories. Ricky Penor was a gifted storyteller who lived life out loud and brought everyone around him along for the ride. He was one of the funniest people you would ever have the privilege of meeting, the kind of man who could fill a room with laughter without even trying.

His favorite gathering place, Grumpy's, was a second home where his humor, warmth, and larger-than-life presence made everyone feel welcome.

But beneath the laughter and the tall tales was a heart that loved without reservation. Ricky loved with his whole heart, and to know him was to be loved by him fully, fiercely, and without condition. He was the kind of loyal friend that most people only hope to find once in a lifetime.

If you needed him, he was there. No questions asked. No hesitation.

Ricky was also a brilliant landscape artist with a rare and natural gift. He possessed an extraordinary vision for rocks, earth and design, an artistic intuition that was uniquely his own, an extension of the deep connection he had with the natural world around him.

He is survived by his mother, Demi Penor of Little Rock; his father, Joe Penor of Little Rock; his brother, Joe Bob Penor and wife Melissa of Woodbridge, Virginia; his sister, Missy Penor of Little Rock; his partner, Sara Beth Roberts; and by the countless family members, friends and loved ones whose lives he touched in ways that words can barely begin to capture. Ricky was loved by so many; it was just too hard for us to single out any one person to be considered honorary pallbearers.

Ricky Penor didn't just pass through this life; he inhabited it fully, joyfully and generously. He will be deeply, endlessly missed.

Rest easy, Ricky. You were one of a kind.

Rather than flowers, the family asks that you honor Ricky the way he would have wanted - go outside, find a patch of ground and plant a tree or something in his name.

An online guestbook is available athttp://www.Rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal. Please feel free to add any photos to the guestbook.

There will be a celebration of Ricky's life from 4:30-7 p.m. on Friday, July 10, at the Eastside Scrapyard, 1416 E 9th St., Little Rock, AR 72202 with a service at 5:30 p.m.

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