A celebration of life will be announced in the springtime during Randall's favorite season. Care is entrusted to the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel and Crematory (660-679-6555) in Butler, Missouri. Online condolences www.schowengerdtchapel.com.
Obituary lovingly written by the family.
Randall Eugene Smith - Uncle Rudy, Rudy Tudy Punch-n-Judy, but NEVER Randy - was born on November 1, 1956, very past due, to Janis and Cecil Smith. Our mother has told us that as a child, he had thought Halloween was a party for his birthday, so - it all kind of worked out.
He would enter school as a sweet little, glasses wearing boy. And even though he loved Nellie Nicholas, he did not love school. But by the Grace of God and probably boxes and boxes of tissues and canned food for extra credit, he would graduate Butler HIgh School with the class of 1975.
In these years he enjoyed Boy Scouts with his mother as a Den Mother. But probably his greatest joys from this time of his life came from time spent at our grandparents’, Olin and Marie Borland’s, for Sunday dinners, afternoon fishing, and trekking through the timber. Summers there were spent learning about hard work with working small bales for 5 cents a bale. Hard work and hard luck were both lessons learned on Grandma and Grandpa’s farm. Don’t make a bet with an eight year old. Even when Randall did jump in the pond on Thanksgiving, Scott did not pay up. Turns out eight year olds in 1968 don’t have a lot of extra 20 dollar bills lying around.
Randall was an avid concert attendee. He saw some of the greatest bands of his time, seeing his favorite band The Rolling Stones several times. And if in the right “frame of mind”, he did, indeed, have the moves like Jagger. Always thrifty, when attending a Stones concert in the early 80’s, he bought his junior high sister an XL concert t-shirt stating, “They were all the same price, so I felt like I was getting more for my money.” He loved to talk about these concerts and some of the shenanigans that he managed to get into. It was the 70’s. We’ll move on.
Randall was a lover of animals, especially dogs…maybe more than people. He had a very mild-mannered disposition, (Some Lodge gals might disagree here - don’t mess with his socks!) but when he witnessed a vehicle stop and drop a litter of puppies, he was waiting for them in the road after they had turned around to head back to town. Guess also, don’t mess with dogs.
Fireworks, amusement parks, the Kansas City Chiefs- he loved it all. Although he did learn not to light firecrackers with a cigarette over a gallon can full of firecrackers. If that cherry falls off in that can, it will sound like a Civil War reenactment, and they will blow right up the bell bottoms. More recently he had enjoyed rides to the City Lake, always hoping to spot one of the two Blue Herons we had named Lenny and Squiggy. Games and activities, especially Dominos and Poker, at the Lodge were a favorite, but not those crafts that “only the ladies do”.
The job that he was proudest to hold was at the City of Archie Water Utilities. He beamed when his responsibilities were described by one of his nieces as “one big science experiment”.
But mostly he loved his family. His nieces were all the things to him. Always game for the summer outdoor fight toys (because THAT seems like a great idea) and walks to the bridge. If he were in charge, it was pajamas til noon…okay 4:00. He shared with them his love of fine TV such as MTV’s Scared, Austin Powers, and more recently, Dr. Pimple Popper. (You know which one you are.) And his momma - quick to call attention to, well, anything that he thought she needed as they became hall mates at the Lodge. Kept pretty good tabs on her anytime she left her room.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Thomas and Mamie (Hart) Smith of Appleton City, MO;
maternal grandparents Olin and Marie (Chitwood) Borland of Butler, MO;
his father Cecil Smith of Butler, MO.
He leaves behind his sweet momma, Janis Darlene;
His brother Scott Smith (Nancy) of Emporia, KS; his nieces Amy Delgado (Mason), Emporia, KS; Juanita Rodriguez, Kansas City, KS; and Brandi Smith, Emporia, KS;
Also his sister, Sheryl Hannah (Kirk), his nieces Kassidy Gerke (Kyle) and Makenna Page (Devon) all of Butler, MO.
We believe that his final years at The Lodge were truly some of his best. He was met with care, respect, love, and grace which fostered an interest in being involved, and his community was created. He was actually kinda spoiled with his chair always reserved and waiting at the games and activities.
With this being said - if you would like to send any kind of a memorial gift in Randall’s honor, please send it to The Medicalodge of Butler, Attn: Activities, 103 E. Nursery St., Butler, MO 64730. And also, the dogs…pet all the dogs.
With love, the Family of Randall Smith (11/01/1956-10/31/2026)
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