Clarence "Corky" Homer Randall

Clarence Homer “Corky” Randall passed away peacefully on February 1, 2021 at The Peaks Care Center in Longmont. He was born on September 24, 1928 in Milliken, CO at the Milliken Hospital, which was also the doctor’s house, to Charles Homer “Homer” and Doris Dickerson Randall.

Homer and Doris farmed in the Ashton Community west of Greeley and this is where they brought baby Clarence home to meet his three older siblings, Dick, Vera and Bill. Dick informed them they could call him Clarence if they wanted but he was going to call him Corky, after a popular comic strip character at the time. This nickname stuck with him for the rest of his life and many people never knew him by any other name. The only family members who called him Clarence were his mother and grandmother.

Corky had many fond memories of life on the farm. He attended the Ashton School through the 8th grade and enjoyed school, particularly the Christmas programs and the plays put on during the school year. Summers were spent working in the fields where he learned to handle a team of horses, a saddle horse, and drive a truck and tractor. Other responsibilities included milking cows and taking care of other livestock. The family left the farm in 1942 when Corky was about 14 years old and moved to town. Interestingly, the two homes that housed the family on the farm are still standing today in west Greeley as new luxury housing developments and shopping centers have sprouted up around them.

Corky graduated from College High School in Greeley in 1946. Following graduation he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in San Francisco, CA. He returned home in 1948 and entered Colorado State College of Education in Greeley (now UNC). But in 1950 the war started in Korea and Corky was called back into the Marine Corps where he proudly served in the Motor Transport of the United States Marine Corps Air Wing Observation Squadron Six. He spent a year in Korea in 1951. On December 23, 1951 he was told he could go home if he could get in the back seat of an OE airplane with another Marine. There was not enough room for his sea bag and his beloved guitar so he left the guitar with a friend. They flew to the east coast of Korea and then boarded an R5D airplane for Japan. He spent Christmas 1951 alone in Japan but he didn’t care, he was on his way home. On January 5, 1952 he boarded the USNS General William Weigel Troop Transport ship in Japan for the trip back home, arriving in San Francisco on January 18, 1952. From there he took the Union Pacific’s streamliner “The City of Los Angeles” and twenty-four hours later arrived in Cheyenne, WY. Upon his return home he again entered college where in 1954 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business.

In 1955 Corky married Doris Newby in Greeley and adopted Doris’ young son, Donnie. At this time he joined the Colorado State Patrol and was stationed in Sterling, CO where son David was born in 1956. The wages of a State Patrolman weren’t enough to support a growing family so they returned to the Denver area shortly after David was born.

In 1956 he joined Sundstrand Aviation in Denver where he retired 35 years later in 1991 as an Industrial Engineer. Daughter Lori was born in 1958 and in 1966 the family moved to Boulder. Corky and Doris divorced in 1972.

In 1974 Corky moved to Lyons to be near his children and it was while living in Lyons he became very active in Veteran organizations. He served many years on the VFW Post 2601 Color Guard in Longmont. He was Commander of VFW Post 2601 in 1980-81 and was Grand Commander of the Military Order of the Cootie of Colorado in 1980. Corky was a proud member of the VFW, Military Order of the Cootie, Marine Corps League, First Marine Division Association and the American Legion. It was at VFW Post 2601 where he met Cynthia Craigg Stotts. They were married September 24, 1979. They moved to their current home in Longmont in 1980.

Having grown up on a farm, Corky always loved to dig in the dirt and make things grow. After his retirement he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and working in his yard and garden. He always had a lush, green lawn and enjoyed growing pumpkins, gourds, corn and tomatoes. He and Cindy bought a truck and camper at that time and enjoyed numerous trips in the Colorado Mountains where they liked observing the wildlife.

Corky was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister, his son Don Randall, daughter-in-law Anne Randall, son-in-law Rich Cleland, and step-son Dennis Craigg.

He is survived by his wife Cindy Randall, son David Randall, daughter Lori (Rich) Loucks, step-daughter Bonnie Gutierrez and step-daughter-in-law Debbie Craigg.

He is further survived by seven grandchildren; Shawna Serpe, John Randall, Joshua (Jen) Randall, Luke (Lindsey) Cleland, Sarah Randall, Justin (Mandy) Randall and David (Kami) Craigg, 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.

A Memorial Service and celebration of Corky’s life will be planned for Fall 2021 or when Covid-19 restrictions allow.

On behalf of the Randall Family, a special thank you to all of the staff at The Peaks Care Center for the kindness, loving care and friendship so freely given to our family during our husband, dad and grandfather’s last few years. We are eternally grateful. ~ Lori & David ~