Randall Parris

December 12, 1946 – November 19, 2022

Randall C. “Randy” Parris, 75, passed away Saturday Nov. 19, 2022, surrounded by his family.

Randy was the oldest of three children, born on Dec. 12, 1946, in Baltimore, Maryland to Ruth and Jack Parris. He grew up in Mooresville, North Carolina, and joined the Navy in 1966. He served during the Vietnam war on two different aircraft carriers, the Yorktown (1966-1969) and the Bennington (1969-1972). One highlight of his military career is that he was aboard the Yorktown when they picked up the astronauts from the Apollo 8 mission. While in the Navy, Randy was stationed in San Diego California, where he met his wife of 37 years, and the love of his life, Sandee Fletcher. In 1972, after his service in the Navy, they moved to Ephrata Washington, where Sandee grew up, to raise their children and start their careers.

In his late 20s he began his 27-year career with Grant PUD. He worked swing shift in the transportation department to begin with, eventually bid into a position in the warehouse and finally retired as the Ephrata warehouse foreman. He was also very involved in the IBEW union and spoke at numerous industry conferences representing the PUD. He was extremely proud to be a Grant PUD employee and made many lifelong friendships while in the industry.

Randy was very involved in the Ephrata community, particularly with the Ephrata Moose Lodge. In his many leadership roles and as a member, he played a big part in fundraisers and activities that enabled the club to send many donations to Moose Heart to support children in need. He also enjoyed the social part of being a member and bowled on the Moose Lodge bowling team. Along with bowling, he played softball and golf and enjoyed fishing, boating and swimming. Probably one of his greatest loves was “soul” music as he called it (Motown) and he and Sandee loved to dance. When they danced, people would stop and watch them because they were such good dancers together and made it look absolutely effortless.

In the last years of his life, he spent the winter months golfing, traveling and enjoying the warm weather in Arizona with his friend Linda and a wonderful group of friends made along the way from the Lakeview Golf Course community and friends made in Arizona. He looked forward to going south every year!

Everyone who knew Randy will remember his amazing smile; it lit up his whole face and even when he wasn’t well in the last days, he had a smile for you. He loved his family and friends wholeheartedly and he was loved deeply by those who knew him.

Randy is survived by his daughter Beverly (Rolland), son Richard (Adrienne), daughter Christina (Sean), daughter Amber (Eric) and son Anthony; grandchildren Matthew, Kassandra, Emily, Aaron, Mason, Samantha, Amber, Paxton, Ava, Audree, Olivia and Ethan; great-grandchildren Lucy, Zoey and Sophie; sister Beverly and brother Steve and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Sandee.

A celebration of Randy’s life will be held in the spring of 2023 and the date/time will be announced at a later date.