Randy was a good man. He faced very difficult times in life, but with courage, made it through and never gave up. 
Wesley D Tate

The challenge in describing in a few sentences or even paragraphs the person he was, the impact he had on my life and the lives around him is enormously difficult. 

Throughout our experiences together, there was always a story.  He had a way of telling stories and they always started with a backstory.  You had to know all the details. That was part of who he was, and how I will always cherish those memories because that’s how I knew he cared.  He wanted to share and for you to feel.  And most of the time to laugh. 

In the 50 plus years I was fortunate enough to share life experiences with him, through opportunities, lessons, mentorship, and occasional chaos, he was the brother I never had.  And through that friendship introduced me to a family of brothers I can’t imagine living without.   

This past decade and a half has been one of fortitude, minor miracles, and an admiration and testament to his strength of character.  

There are no questions about how his life impacted mine, the vacancy that now exists, and just how lucky I was to meet him. 
Tony

Ran Man Minton was one of the funniest people I’ve known. He was witty and goofy. He was able to make you laugh no matter the situation (which sometimes you needed). He was honest (even if you were being an idiot) and would do anything he could to help you. He also really loved Tam. You could feel it when they were together. He loved the family they created. He loved the Kentucky crew and we will all love and miss him!
Britt

As I was thinking about writing this, I was asking myself how to term the kind of guidance only you could give, and I feel like the best way of saying it is that you somehow always managed to make me laugh while  also making me realize I needed to get myself together. You were my second dad. You always made us laugh, that's what I remember most from my days with the Minton’s laughing a lot. You were so open and honest with us in a way that most adults in life never are with kids,. just by being you:  wonderful, hilarious, opinionated, bigger than life you!
You helped me out of my shell, and I felt safe and loved for exactly who I was. What a gift I will never forget. Thank you for everything, especially waking us up to music in the mornings and the laughter. I love you.
Kirsten

We will always cherish the memories of being at your home with Randy during the holidays, surrounded by all the family and kids, as well as the fun day we spent together so many years ago in Cozumel. 

We will also remember Randy for being such a good friend to Wes and Ally’s friends as they grew into adulthood. Not only was he generous to all of them, he was often a second dad who offered his support throughout their lives. That was his lasting gift. 

Most of all, Randy will be remembered for being a devoted father and husband in the face of his most challenging health struggles. He had amazing courage and tenacity that inspired so many of us. 

He will be deeply missed by us and all who knew him.

Joe & Susan

Ran
I will always remember him as a quiet, classy, and honorable guy. He struck me as very level- headed and always thought things out with great intelligence. He adored his Tam and kids fiercely. I loved how his smile turned to a cute smirk while listening to Tam’s bigger-than-life adventures.
A true gentleman is missed.
Jill

Hey Leesy! I’ll miss hearing Ran call me Leesy. He was the life of family gatherings!  I loved his zest for adventure, listening to his playlists at the pool in Cozumel, drinking his margaritas, our family card games, and just being in his company.  What I admired most; his courage and his love for each of you.
Lisa Ky Crew

What stood out most to me about Randy was how much he loved his family and how deeply he valued his friendships. He had a calm, reassuring way about him that made others feel heard and supported, especially during difficult times. 
That kind of quiet kindness and care for others is something that left a lasting impression, and  I will always remember that about him. 
Mike Fraler

There is a specific kind of bravery that doesn't arrive with a shield or sword. It’s the kind that creates a silent courage that sits in a chair, smiles at a stranger, and decides, day after day, that the world is worth staying in.

I met Randy and Tam in 2022—a year or so after the Covid pandemic that left the world feeling, at times, cold and uncertain. 

For Randy, uncertainty had been occupying his health for a long time. He lived in that thin, sacred space between the struggle of the body and the resilience of his soul. But what struck me most about Randy wasn't his illness; it was his soft focus.

When most people are in pain or under pressure, their vision narrows. They become sharp, brittle, and bitter. But Randy did the opposite. He stayed warm. He kept his focus soft—not because he couldn't see the reality of his situation, but because he chose to only sharpen his gaze on the things that mattered: Tam, his children, his grandchildren, neighbors and friends.

To watch Randy move through the process of selling a home—a process that can be very stressful—was like watching a masterclass in peace. He never lost his cool. He moved forward with a grace that suggested he knew a secret the rest of us were still trying to learn: that kindness is a better shield than bitterness, and that loving is the only real way to survive the storm.

Randy lived his life like a summer sunset sky—clear, steady, and lit from the inside. He proved to me that even when the body is in crisis the heart can remain a sanctuary.

He taught us all how to love with a soft focus, and that’s a legacy worth remembering. 

Rest easy, Randy. You’ll always be my friend. Jeremy

Hi pal – I’ve been thinking and praying for you daily. Also reminiscing a bit. One of my favorite memories is when we took the road trip in your car to Colorado for skiing.  If my memory is correct, you actually disconnected the odometer so that you wouldn’t add up any unnecessary miles on your sweet vehicle. We slept in your car, lived in McDonald's, and almost got pushed off the road by a semi during a blizzard on the Continental Divide!  I’ll cherish those memories.  Thanks for making them possible. Godspeed.  Billy

Randy took my best friend away to Texas, and I was devastated, but as I came to know him, I realized how good he was and how much he cared for Tam and later for his children.  My dismay turned into respect and joy as I saw that the two were truly soulmates. Thank you, Randy, for taking such good care of Tammy, Ally, and Wes.
Paula

Continuing my condolence: He adored you!  He wanted To be with Wes & Ally & his grandkids. To be with about a dozen lifelong friends, including me, who loved him. He fought for more time with the people he Loved! 
Another memory that stands out to me , Randy never forgot his Friends. That 2nd home you two built , wasn’t just an investment  or a Family getaway , it was a place he Loved to Share through his generosity.
He really enjoyed organizing guy trips and bringing a handful of us along to enjoy activities like deep sea fishing, snorkeling, diving, scootering to the other side of the island, bar hopping, eating & drinking all while laughing till our sides hurt, and embellishing on a few stories of our lives spent together!
Those trips weren’t just vacations, they were Magical! They were Randy’s way of keeping us all united.
He gave us time well spent together that We will Never Forget!
And at the end, He showed a different kind of courage.  He knew whatever treatments he was receiving or could receive no longer gave him a Quality of LIFE,
He knew the weight of the Burden was too much.
He couldn’t  put you through anymore. You have been his Angel Tam! He knows that and Adores You!
So Randy, being the Truthful & Caring Person he has always been, made the hard decision to choose Hospice.
He faced the end the same way he faced Life, Honestly, Thoughtfully, and with Love for the People Around Him.
In those later days, he & I had several meaningful conversations about what may come next and about our Spiritual Life. We surely didn’t have all the answers, but it was a true blessing to spend time sharing our questions and our Hopes! There was no pretending, no Bravado, just two Old Friends trying to make sense of Life, Death, and what might be Beyond. I will hold those Conversations Close to My Heart for the Rest of My Life! I Love You Too Tam. Thank You for Being the Love of his life, it was a joy to witness. Peace be with you, my friend. Love, Donnie Mike

Tam,
A few thoughts about my Buddy Ran.
I am grateful that I got to call him My Friend for 54 years. That’s a lifetime of stories,laughter,& many meaningful conversations that will live on forever!
I’ll give you a couple of quick memories I’ve probably mentioned to you over the years but they must have impacted me enough to stay with me my whole life!
There was a girl I used to date way back in High School that Randy wanted to ask out after we broke up. Most guys at that age would have just gone and done it but Randy came to me 1st. He wanted my permission because he didn’t want it to affect our friendship. I said Of Course and we moved on. That may seem like a small moment, but it stuck with me for decades. It was a real testament to Randy’s Loyalty to Friendship!
It told me what kind guy he was, Honest, Respectful, and deeply Loyal.
Years later, I brought it up to him and told him how much that meant to me. He just laughed and said he didn’t even remember asking. For him, that kind of Respect and Honesty was just Normal.
A Little later down our Friendship road I was blessed with a front row seat to who he was while we were college roommates in Arizona.
I remember one night sitting around talking about blood & guts & needles & shots.. All of a sudden, Randy stands up, walks out of the room, and then we hear a loud thump. It was Randy passing out on the stairway landing just outside our Apartment door. When he came to, he told me he gets really queasy talking about that kind of stuff. Fast forward,  that same guy,  the one who got lightheaded from just listening to a gross story about needles & blood, went through a life-saving double lung transplant. For more than a dozen years after that, he was poked & prodded by Doctors & Nurses, survived one surgery after another, went right up to the edge of death more than once, 
 It didn’t make him sick anymore, it made him stronger, it kept him Alive! It kept him here for a dozen more years to be with you Tam.

To the Minton Family,

 My last visit with Big Don was a fantastic, one-on-one conversation that I will always consider our best. Randy has been my best friend for well over 50 years. 

Together we have been through the best and the worst life has to offer. Besides sharing our love and friendship for each other, I told Ran that of the 10 most important moments of my life, he has been involved in at least 6 of those moments.

A few examples include: #1, My first marriage, #2 my first divorce, #3 my parents’ funeral, #4 Well, that’s all I can tell you without getting in trouble with my wife and Tam.

When I lost my job in Chicago at age 23, Randy didn’t hesitate. He told me to come down to Dallas for a visit. That “visit” turned into 35 years of my life. He looked out for me from day one—not just as a friend, but as a brother. That’s who he was. He had a way of making you feel safe, welcomed, and understood.

And no one—absolutely no one—could make me laugh like Donny. The kind of laughter that comes from deep in your chest, the kind that stays with you long after the moment is gone. I will always cherish those memories. They’re part of who I am.

I will miss him for the rest of my life. But I’m grateful—truly grateful—for every moment we shared, every laugh, every conversation, and every year of friendship. He made my life better just by being in it.

Love you all, David “Donny” Fee

Randy was too cool for school….he never needed praise or recognition for anything, he was just him. He sat me down a few times to give me fatherly advice, but mostly, when it came to Randy, it was just nice to have a good example of what it was to be a man. In Cozumel we loved messing with him when he was trying to tan naked on the roof. 
He was a father to two, but a father figure to many. 
Cooper

Tam,

Randy was one of the greatest friends of my life. There was no one whom I loved more dearly or kept so close, for so long. 

Life is full of ups and downs, and you learn who your true friends are when you see their faces on your happiest days and on your most sorrowful days.  Randy was always there for me.  

I will never forget back in 2010 when my wife, Kate, died. Randy just appeared at my front door and gave me a hug.  He traveled all the way from Dallas to Memphis to do it.  He stayed for a couple of days to see me through a very dark hour.  Lucky me.

But I also remember the great times. We got to know each other when we were probably seven years old. We went through grade school, high school, adolescence, adulthood, middle age, and old age.  And I'm not the only one. Randy was just that kind of guy who could keep friends his whole life. Not many people can do that. It will be bitter, but very sweet to get together with that group of boys, now older men, and celebrate Randy's life - all of us, together this Friday.

My heart goes out to you, your children, and your grandchildren. Losing Randy has really jarred me, so I can only imagine how you feel. But try not to despair, because he will always be with us in spirit. I will think of him often, as I know you will, for hope and inspiration.

With all my love,

Brian Collins

When I think back on my early twenties at Merrill Lynch, I remember a time filled with laughter, friendship, and the excitement of beginning our adult lives.  Tam, Suzanne, and I shared many carefree moments together, and Ran was always part of that circle - kind, welcoming, and full of good spirit.  Though life eventually carried us in different directions, those memories remain very dear to me.  I believe the people who cross our paths during those formative years are gifts, and Ran was certainly one of them.  I will always remember him with warmth and gratitude.

Randy was the type of person who made other’s lives better and more enjoyable.  He was always quick to laugh and see the irony of life!

Some of my favorite memories were created with Randy, together with our LT and ASU pals.   I will cherish them.  

Randy also show showed compassion to others when they needed support.  All in all, I am proud and thankful for our friendship and will remember him for the contributions he made to other’s lives.   God bless him.

Randy was everything you would want in a husband, son, father, uncle, grandfather, friend and mentor.    His wisdom and warmth will be greatly missed.  He was first a family man who adored his wife and had great pride and love in his children.  He was always welcoming and charming.  He was a great family man and ensured warmth and appreciation to all who entered his realm of friendship.   He will be greatly missed and mourned in the loss of his friendship.   A life well lived in too short a time. Prayers and Blessings to all who knew him.

My name is Nick Hurst, Michael Hurst’s second son! I’ve only met Randy once but heard a 1000 stories about him. My dad’s friendship with Randy taught me 2 things: always be there for the ones you love, and live the fullest life with your best friends by your side. I wish heaven treats him well and  prayers to Randy and his family

OBITUARY

Randall W. Minton

September 2, 1956 – January 27, 2026

Sparkman Funeral Home & Cremation Services

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