Randy Whitson

October 17, 1933 – February 14, 2026

Randolph “Randy” Eugene Whitson passed away peacefully on February 14, 2026, in Amarillo, Texas. Randy was born on October 17, 1933, in Cumby, Texas to Earnest Eugene Whitson and Constance Mae Hall.

After moving much of his life, Randy attended Windom High School for three years before transferring as a senior to Abernathy High School, graduating in 1953. He was an outstanding athlete, playing basketball, football, and baseball, which earned him being named “Most Athletic”.

In December of 1953, while working a cotton gin, he lost his right arm in an accident. He had to relearn everything, except for writing, the only thing he did left-handed. Living a life of self-directed occupational therapy, he adapted, compensated, and adjusted to the point where he could do more with one arm than most men can do with two. An instinctive and natural-born mechanic and engineer, he fixed everything: cars, appliances, plumbing, and electrical systems. He modified devices and tools for his daily use, including steak knives, a bread holder for making sandwiches, and later in his life, a walker, which provided Randy with much-needed assistance and mobility.

Randy married the love of his life, Nellie Barnes, on March 8, 1956. They had been married fifty-nine years before her passing. (Valentine’s Day was a perfect day for their reunion.) After their marriage, they moved to Littlefield, Texas where Karen and Larry were born.

Randy worked for the United States Department of Agriculture with the ASCS Office. That career led him from Littlefield to Canyon, and finally, Perryton, where he retired as an office manager.

Randy was a very active man. He served on the Littlefield Volunteer Fire Department and was a boy scout leader, where he learned and loved to make delicious peach cobbler in a Dutch oven over a campfire, while camping with his scouts. He coached youth baseball in Littlefield and Canyon before Larry was even old enough to play and then he coached Larry’s teams through the various leagues. He took pride in his lawn even watering by hand during his lunch hour and again after work. Later in life, he loved sitting on his porch watching his walking sprinkler do the watering. He also loved collecting coins, a passion that he shared with his grandchildren.

After retiring in 1989, Randy and Nellie moved to Amarillo, where he built a wood working shop in the backyard and spent many hours making a variety of things – clocks and dominoes being his favorites. Nellie also brought many ideas and patterns to him, including custom-made Christmas ornaments for each grandchild based on their annual interests and activities. Every afternoon, Randy would take a break from his wood shop to go have coffee with his friends, “I’m going to the coffee shop”, even if it was the bowling alley, Whataburger or Waffle House. He enjoyed talking with his friends so much that he soon added a morning coffee visit.

Randy and Nellie loved traveling in their RV together and with their friends, they built many friendships along the way in various RV parks. They loved playing cards and dominoes with family and friends and spent a lot of time visiting and getting to know their RV park neighbors.

After Nellie passed, Randy would spend hours sitting on his front porch, serving as the “Neighborhood Watch”, knowing almost everyone on the block and their schedules! He’d wave at and talk to anyone walking or driving by, including children who were out for a walk from a nearby daycare, who would yell, “Hi, Grandpa!”

Randy loved Karen and Larry and had great pride in their athletic, musical, educational and professional accomplishments. That joy and pride multiplied when he became “Poppy” to his grandchildren and “Pop-Pop” to his great grandchildren. He adored all of them and loved to watch all their activities: church, baseball, soccer, swimming, piano, choir, and graduations. Always the coach, you could see him standing outside the backstop fence of a little league baseball game coaching a grandson (“Throw strikes!”) and recently behind the fence in his wheelchair coaching and encouraging a great grandson. At home, while seated in his chair, his great grandchildren would bring him toys, stickers, games or books to play with and he was always ready to enjoy those special moments. He truly treasured them and just wanted to watch them grow up and see who they’d become as he did his children and grandchildren.

Randy attended St. Stephen Church of Amarillo until no longer able and then he enjoyed watching River Fellowship online, always watching for his favorite worship leader, grandson Landon.

Randy was preceded in death by his father, E.E. Whitson, stepmother Cordelia Whitson, his mother, Constance Mae Salvaggio, brother J.R. Whitson, sister LaDell Poole, and a daughter, Cheryl Jean Whitson.

Randy is survived by his daughter, Karen Brantley and husband Royal of Amarillo; his son, Larry Whitson and wife Kerry of Plano; grandchildren Ryan (Brittan), Evan (Lynsi), Landon (Whitney) all of Amarillo, and Haley Whitson of Tucson, Arizona; great grandchildren Carter Royal and Callie Rose Brantley, Emilia Layne and Rowan Marcus Brantley, and Ezra Cordelle and Jesse Eugene Brantley. Randy is also survived by a sister, Emma Lee Whitson of New Orleans, Louisiana, and a brother, Travis Whitson and wife Phenie of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Viewing is on Wednesday, February 18th, 9:00AM-5:00PM, Griggs-Schooler-Gordon, 5400 Bell Street, Amarillo, Texas 79109. The family will be available at that location the same day from 5:00PM-7:00PM.

Graveside services will be Thursday, February 19 at 11:00AM in Littlefield, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Baptist Community Services of Amarillo.