Obituary of Garrison E. Randall

COLTON—A Celebration of Life gathering for 77 year old Garrison E. Randall, 2 Old State Road, Colton, will be held at the Buck Funeral Home in Colton on Monday, January 22, 2018 starting at 4:30 p.m. A moment of prayer as well as stories and reflections will be shared until 6 p.m. Garrison passed away at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse on Friday, January 19, 2018. Garrison was born at his parent's house in West Parishville on August 21, 1940, the eldest son of Earl and Belva Walker Randall. As a young child, Garrison suffered with rheumatic fever that kept him bedridden for 2-years resulting in falling behind his classmates. He dropped out of school before finishing his HS degree to work in the family logging business. In 1959 he married Norene Warner and had their first child, Alan later that year. Two years later their youngest child, Mark was born. Garrison and his young family lived in Colton for much of his adult life. He eventually received his GED in the late 70's. He started Garrison Randall Logging in the early 1980's and continued working until his retirement ten years ago. He is well known as a gregarious friendly person who was a very creative and hard worker. One of his most difficult and memorable logging jobs was on an island in the middle of Black Lake. Starting in late December he started working the ice to make it stronger and thicker. After 2-3 weeks of working the ice it was thick enough to support multiple 30 ton logging skidders. He logged until spring because the ice became too thin. It was his most challenging and rewarding project of his career. Garrison also enjoyed hunting and fishing as well. Garrison is survived by his wife of 58 years, the former Norene Warner of Parishville and two sons, Alan Randall and his long-time partner, Betty "Shadow" Walker Dibler of Wichita Falls TX. Alan has 4 children Joshua Randall, Danielle Randall, both living in Tucson, AZ; James Randall (Minnesota) and Jakob Randall (Parishville). He is further survived by his youngest son, Mark Randall and his wife, Ruby Randall of Encinitas, CA and one son, Max Randall (Del Mar, CA). He is also survived by his sisters Mary Finley, Camillus, NY; Darlene and Roger Whitmore (North Carolina); Shirley Tatusko (Ilian, NY); Linda and Ronnie Butterfield (Canton); Vicky and Bruce Hanson (Canton) and a brother Stephen and Carol Randall (Hannawa Falls). Garrison was pre-deceased by his brother-in-law, Gary Finley. Memorial Donations in Garrison's memory can be made to a charity of one's choice and memories and condolences may be shared online at www.buckfuneralhome.com .