Gary Randall

1947 - 2020

Gary Randall
September 12, 1947 - November 9, 2020
Fort Worth, Texas - On November 9, 2020, Gary Allan Randall succumbed to pneumonia and Covid 19, ending a long battle with COPD. Five years on oxygen only slowed him down. It did not end his singing until the last year. He persevered with grace and good humor to the end.
Gary was born in Norway, Michigan, to parents Ronald and Betty Randall, and attended schools in Lansing and Detroit. Immediately after graduation from high school in 1967, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He spent two tours in Vietnam during his enlistment and ended his service at Plattsburg Air Force Base in New York. Gary entered Eastern Michigan University at Ypsilanti and studied a range of subjects from astronomy to geology, geography and climate science, becoming a lifelong learner.
Following his love of music, he joined a friend who was already performing. The group added more members, calling themselves Group Therapy and Free and Easy, spending more than a decade playing music and forming lifelong friendships.
During the years of music making Gary lived in Dexter and Ann Arbor Michigan. In 1988 after completing a degree in electronics, he moved to Texas, following his parents and siblings, and worked in the field of electronics research and development until retirement.
Gary was generous with his time, volunteering over the years for AIDS Outreach Center in Fort Worth, supporting PFLAG Fort Worth and participating in Westside Unitarian Universalist Church's monthly Samaritan House Supper Club dinner. He was always available to help out with the Scouting activities of his nephews, Grant Weaner and Wyatt Randall, on their road to Eagle Scout.
Music filled his life - to sing was to be the music. His encyclopedic memory of lyrics provided a statement for every occasion and his musical tastes spanned many genres of music. He was a member of the Arlington Good Times Chorus in the early 1990's and later sang with a small performing group known as the Metronotes. In 2008 he joined the Gold Tones Chorus which primarily entertained at retirement communities around the Metroplex. He joined Resounding Harmony in Dallas, a philanthropic chorus that donated all proceeds of their concerts to charity. In 2015-2016 he was chosen Member of the Year. He also sang in the Westside Unitarian Universalist church choir.
Gary was a loving partner, companion, brother and friend. He never met a stranger - wherever he stopped along the way was an opportunity to connect with another human being. His generous heart was always willing to share what he had, and sharing was not limited to humans. His cat karma was legendary – they all found him. There must have been a secret cat note by the door – "you'll be welcome here". His place can never be filled in the hearts of his family and friends.
Gary leaves behind his wife and partner of 28 years, Sharon Salih, her son, David Salih, and daughter, Julie Ledford, and granddaughter, Elise Ledford, sister Marcia Gjundjek and husband Alan, sister Nancy Weaner and husband Gale, brother David Randall and wife Libby, and sister Melissa Randall. He is also survived by nieces Amy Dulan, Jill Smith, Mandy Mauro, Sofia Graham and Amanda Flores, nephews Grant Weaner, Wyatt Randall and William Trousdale, and grandniece Kylie Bowen.
A celebration of his life has been postponed due to Covid 19 restrictions. Memorial gifts may be made to PFLAG Fort Worth, AOC.org, Samaritan House, or Westside Unitarian Universalist Church's Endowment Fund.