Randall Barrett Schrum

Randall "Randy" Barrett Schrum, 74, of Valrico, Florida, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on September 5, 2023, with his family by his bedside. While our tears show our sadness, our hearts are joyful knowing he is relishing in the eternal light of the glory of God. To know him was to know the meaning of a selfless man.

Randy was born on August 25, 1949, in Gastonia, North Carolina to the late Charles E. and Catherine B. Schrum. He was the youngest of two boys.

The Schrum family moved to Sanford, Florida in 1957. Randy graduated from Seminole High School in 1967. While attending high school, he had the opportunity to work for a local veterinarian, Dr. Bass, where his love for animals blossomed into a lifelong passion for animals. He attended Seminole Community College until 1969 when he began his career as a carman at Seaboard Coastline Railroad. He continued to work for both CSX & Amtrak until retirement.

Among Randy's proudest accomplishments was the day he received a "yes" to the question, "would you like to meet for coffee?" He had finally mustered the courage to ask the woman whom he had fallen in love with from afar on a date. He would always see her and say to himself, "she is the most stunning woman I have ever seen," and with a smile on his face he would never forget to mention his affection for "those tight blue jeans" she would wear. From that moment on, his world began and ended with Laureen. Randy got his dream girl and gained two daughters when he married Laureen in May 1994.

Randy is survived by the love of his life and wife Laureen Conway Schrum; brother Charles "Dickie" E. Schrum; daughters Angela Clark, Sirena Schrum, Tiffany Willis, and his "Alligator" Allison Snow; as well as nine grandchildren.

Randy was a Godly man, a devout Christian that deeply loved the Lord. He was a member of Bell Shoals Church for 30 years where he had the honor to serve as an usher for many of those years.

Randy adored his wife and loved his daughters. He enjoyed piddling in his shop, setting up his model trains at Christmas, secretly being a Trekkie, and most of all being a "Papa" to his grandchildren. He touched so many lives and made each person better just by knowing him. He would do anything for anyone, even when he was not well. He loved all of God creatures, big and small. He would rescue any animal without hesitation often resulting in a few extra animals calling the Schrum house home. During a recent rehabilitation stay, you would be guaranteed to find a bag of peanuts by his bedside to feed the squirrels when he went for a stroll outside.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in his name to First Ladies Farm and Sanctuary in Riverview, Florida, or any local animal non-profit rescue of your choosing. We also request written stories and/or videoed memories of Randy to be shared with family to be cherished for years to come.

The family invites you to attend a "Celebration of Life" service officiated by Charles Young, Ph.D. to honor Randy at 5:00pm on Thursday, October 5th, 2023, at Bell Shoals Church located at 2102 Bell Shoals Road, Brandon, Florida 33511. Visitation with family and friends will begin at 4:00pm.

He will be remembered as a man of honor and compassion through the hearts and minds of the loved ones left behind.

Put simply, Randy was an easy person to love.