Gone Hunting

7-10-1939 - 10-27-2006

William Ray "Bill" Randall was born to

Francis Jay "Frank" Randall and Mamie G.

Fuller Randall on July 10, 1939, at his

parents home on the Tucannon in Columbia

County, Washington. Frank Randall went to

work for the Fish and Wildlife Service and

was transferred to Okanogan County in

1943. The family, consisting of Frank,

Mamie, 4 year old Bill, and older brother,

James moved to Rattlesnake Point, south of

Malott in July of that year. While he lived

there, he belonged to Troop 5 of the Boy Scouts of America,

also doing farm and ranch work for the Geo Davis family, the

Floyd Utt family, and the Paul Stout family. He attended

the Malott Grade School though the 8th grade. When the school

burned down, classes were held in the Old School, now the

Grange Hall, the Community Club, and the Church basement.

When the new school was built, they added on a large gym. The

school had a basketball team that Bill played on during the 8th

grade year. Parents Frank and Mamie moved to 925 South 1st

Street, Okanogan. Bill stayed with brother, James and his wife,

Betty, who had traded for the Rattlesnake Point Place until

graduating from the 8th grade.

After graduating, he moved to Okanogan and attended four

years of high school. He made many friends, including future

wife, Joyce Summerville, a cheerleader for the football team

that Bill lettered on. After graduations with the classes of 1957

and 1958, Bill married Joyce. Bill worked for Kirchivale Ranches,

located at the Chilowist and Antoine Creek area, for a short time.

After working there, he went to work for the U.S. Forest Service

on the old Conconully District. During this time, he wore many

hats and worked on fires all over the United States and Alaska.

Working for the Service, he made many friends including the

men in the service, ranchers, loggers, Game Department

and cattlemen, to name a few. When his Dad went to work

for the Game Department and transferred to Dayton, Bill and

Joyce bought the 1st Street home and lived there for 27 years,

including the births of his daughter, Laura and son, Ray. They

bought a small acreage of land from Bill's good friend, Delmar

Springer, to have a place to keep Bill's saddle, his pack of

horses, and a place to raise hay for them. Later on, they bought

a home and property adjoining the pasture and alfalfa field from

friend and fellow Forest Service employee, Don Arbogast.

Don was also the man who sold Bill the D&B Sprinkler Repair

Service which he operated until his death. Bill was very close to

his family and friends and there was nothing he wouldn't do for

them. One night, he drove to Colville to help long-time, close

friend, and hunting partner, Kerm Link to rescue a Bald Eagle.

Bill was always busy with many hobbies. He enjoyed many

yard sales. He also enjoyed a good auction. D&D will miss him

(Darrel's mother was one of Bill's grade school teachers). Bill

was a life member of the National Rifle Association, an annual

member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a member of

the Okanogan Gun Club, and the Malott Improvement Club. He

also participated with family and friends in the Spokane Old Car

Swap Meet for many years, but most of all, second only to his

family, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He had many trophy

deer, elk, bear, a large cougar that made the Boon and Crocket.

He had many favorite areas for deer, such as Conconully,

Rattlesnake Point, and Horseshoe Basin area. The Big Horn that

burned this summer, was also a spot that was near and dear to

him. He had hunted Elk in the same area of the Blue Mountains

for over 40 years. His hunting group was known as The

Okanogan Boys, and their camp was called Draggin Camp.

Bill passed away preparing to pack camp into the Tucannon

Wilderness area along with his nephew, Buzz, his grandnephew,

Ryan and long time close friend, hunting companion, and fellow

Forest Service retiree, Dick Coppock. Bill went to his camper to

change his shoes and relax a minute or two before packing

camp up the hill. A short time later, his nephew, Ryan, went to

the camper to ask about one of the horses. He found Bill leaning

back on his bunk with his legs crossed, apparently asleep. When

Ryan couldn't wake him, he called his Dad and Dick and they

found he had passed away. This was just a few short miles from

where Bill was born.

Bill was preceded in death by his father and mother. He is

survived by his wife, Joyce at home; his daughter, Laura

Hayner and her husband, John; granddaughters, Jessica

(Hayner) McMurtrey, Tayna Hayner, and Tasha Hayner; his son,

Ray Randall and his wife, Judy; grandsons, Kieron Randall,

and Michio Randall; his brother, James and his wife,

Betty; nephews, Francis "Bud", Bernard "Buzz" and Jim Jr.; and

many grandnephews, grandnieces, great-grandnephews and

great-grandnieces. He is also survived by fellow long time

hunting companions and friends, Kermit Link and Dick Coppock;

cousin, Ed J. Barney of Lowell, OR; and many more friends.

Bill, you will be missed by many, and remembered by all.

Rest in peace husband, father, grandad, brother,

ncle, cousin and friend. O Dark 30

There will be a viewing of Bill Randall on Sunday, November 5,

2006, from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held

Monday, November 6, 2006, at 11:00 a.m.

Precht-Harrison-Nearents Chapel in care of arrangements.

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