Randy Burress

Randy Charles Burress, 60, of Fort Smith, went to be with our Lord and Savior Jan. 27, 2018, in Van Buren at his place of residence. He was born in Fort Smith on May 28, 1957. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, James and Lucille Burress; his maternal grandparents, Charles and Ruby Busselle; his step-father, Robert C. Dowty; a brother, Stephen Brian Dowty; and a cousin, LouAnn Brady.

Randy, a 1975 graduate of North Side High School, suffered with Type I Diabetes. He lost his eyesight on October 29, 1979. He attended a blind vocational-technical school in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he was taught how to function as a blind person. He went back to that school Service in Indianapolis, Indiana. When he moved back to Fort Smith, he worked as a medical transcriptionist at Health South Rehab. Randy taught computer classes in his home to blind and visually impaired people for the Department of Human Services, Division of Services for the Blind, until they ran out of funds. He also had his own business transcribing at home. (He had a computer that talked.) Randy was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities for two years and then appointed, later, on the Board of Directors for Division of Services for the Blind. He chaired the Transit Advisory Commission in Fort Smith and was a member in good standing of the Fort Smith Transit Operations Committee. He was also a member of the Arkansas Council of the Blind. Randy wanted to contribute to society as long as he was able.

Many of you who knew him and know his family, have a copy of the book, “Why Am I Still Here” by Shirley Touchstone. Randy wrote a story in that book starting on page 59. On the last page of his story, he wrote these words, and I quote: …”I never realized, after I first went blind, that I would be ever have been able to accomplish any of these things I have mentioned; especially as a blind person. I worked very hard, but the real credit belongs to God. Again, I pray to Him often and I am extremely thankful for all he has given me. All of my successes, past, and present, have been achieved only with the help of God! He holds my future in His hands…Tell God how wonderful your life is with Him at the forefront, for He is responsible for the things which make your life wonderful….”

The past couple of years Randy lived in a nursing home because of his blindness, diabetes and heart condition. He lost a leg while living there and was learning to walk with a prosthesis. On Jan. 27, 2018, his heart stopped beating, and Randy took his last breath on this earth.

Randy is survived by a son, Sgt. Ian Burress and wife, Jennifer in Enterprise, Alabama; a daughter, Ashley Fly and husband, Paul in Pegram, Tennessee; four grandchildren, Summer and Matthew Burress, Eden and Jasper Fly; his father and step-mother, Jerry and Jimmie Lee Burress; his mother, Anita Dowty; a half-sister, Dawn Dowty Bull and husband, Bryan; half-brother, Robert C. “Bob” Dowty and wife Celia; sister, Jackie Bieker and husband, Brent; brother, Jerry Burress and wife, Kim; step-sister, Pam Hayer and husband, Dale and many nieces and nephews.

Thanks so much to Max and Marilyn Goins, Joann Leczel and Kay Hayes for visiting with Randy and sharing the Word of God with him. All of you are so appreciated. God bless you.

Memorial service will be at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, Arkansas on Thursday, February 1, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Max Goins, from Heritage Methodist in Van Buren, officiating. Private interment to be at Roselawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Guiding Eyes for The Blind, 611Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598.