Reverand Randall Paul Scheri

1940 - 2016

GILFORD – The Reverend Randall Paul Scheri was called home to be with his Lord Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. With the help of his loving and devoted wife of 28 years, the Reverend Krisann Byrne-Scheri  battled end stage renal disease for the last five years of his life. He was filled with gratitude for Krisann who learned to give him hemodialysis at home. 

Randall was born June 6, 1940, in Melrose, Mass., son to Anthony and Dorothy (DeVeau) Scheri. The oldest of eight children. He graduated from Wakefield High School in 1958 and enlisted in the United States Navy. After his tour of duty he enrolled and graduated from Lowell State Teacher's College with a degree in music education. 

The next 20 years of his life were devoted to vocal music. He conducted choirs, sang in churches, synagogues and night clubs. He attended the Philadelphia School of the Performing Arts where he studied opera performance. He sang in opera companies in Boston and Philadelphia. He worked with such greats as Sarah Caldwell and Beverly Sills. After an accident on stage which left him with a broken leg, he answered a call to pastoral ministry that he had felt since he was a boy. 

He enrolled at Bangor Theological Seminary in Bangor, Maine in 1984 where he met Krisann who enrolled the same year. They married in 1988 and after each receiving  their Masters Degree in Divinity they served several United Methodist Churches in Maine. Sometimes the same church,  other times separate churches many miles apart. They came to New Hampshire in 1995 where Randall served the Suncook and the Colebrook United Methodist Churches.

Randall is survived by his wife, Krisann; two sisters, Marie and Phyllis; three brothers, Richard, Allen and Bobby and their spouses; two children by a previous marriage, Victoria and Paul and their spouses; two step-daughters, Jessica and Emily and their spouses; and nine grandchildren. In addition to his parents he is predeceased by two brothers, James and Ronald.

A celebration of Randall's life will take place Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Gilford, 18 Wesley Way, Gilford.  

Burial will take place at the Church's columbarium.

 If you wish, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local food pantry in his memory. Randall's mission in ministry was feeding the poor. By your gift you will honor his ministry. 

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to wilkinsonbeane.com.