Jill
Well-known member
I wanted to post this, what an extraodinary life!
RANDALL E. "RANDY" RASH, beloved son, brother, and friend, died in Saint Luke's Episcopal Hospital on the 2nd of January 2009, following a brief illness. Randy was born on the 10th of January 1975, in Grapeland, Texas, to Billy W. Rash and Cherie Moller Rash. His birth was a pivotal event in the life of his mother and his father. As his mother Cherie said, "When I held Randy, I first understood the meaning of the term love." After spending his first 10 years in the Gulf Coast area, Randy and members of his family moved to Crockett, Texas. Randy was an enormously popular student and a member of the first Honors classes formed at Crockett High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society, the Drama Club, the Spanish Club, and the Crockett High School Band. He was a cast member of the award winning UIL One Act Play cast and was chosen as a member of the District All Star Cast. He served as president of his class both his junior and senior year in high school and was president of the Crockett High School FFA. He won many honors in the FFA and was one of the youngest district presidents. He was elected Mr. Crockett High School his senior year in high school where he graduated with honors. In addition, Randy was an extremely successful livestock exhibitor. He traveled throughout the United States exhibiting steers. The trophy room in his mother's home is filled with honors won by Randy and his brother Ryan during their careers as junior livestock exhibitors. During this time, he exhibited five breed champions at the Houston Livestock Show, the Grand Champion Steer at the State Fair of Texas, the Grand Champion Steer at the National Western in Denver, the Grand Champion FFA steer at the American Royal in Kansas City, and the Reserve Grand Champion Steer at the San Antonio Livestock Show. He was a member of the Texas Junior Livestock Association and served as president of the Texas Club Calf Association Junior Board of Directors for two years. He won top honors in the TCCA and was named the TCCA All-Around Champion Steer exhibitor. After graduating from high school, Randy set off for Texas A & M University in College Station. He was a member of the Saddle and Sirloin Club and as a freshman was chosen to chair the TAMU Saddle and Sirloin Steer and Heifer Futurity. His personality and enthusiasm attracted many close and enduring friends. He served as a member of National Champion TAMU Evaluation team under the coaching of Dr. Larry Boleman. He graduated with honors from Texas A&M with a degree in Agricultural Journalism. Immediately following his graduation, he served as a Congressional Intern in the offices of United States Congressman Jim Turner. After returning from Washington D.C., Randy went to work for some of his family's businesses in Crockett, Texas. He was an Administrative Assistant for his stepfather, John Ben Carrabba, and was a graphic artist for The Showbox Magazine, the livestock magazine founded by his mother. In 1999, Randy moved to Houston to attend South Texas College of Law. It was during his time in law school that he formed some of the lasting friendships of his life. He became a member of the Diana Foundation, served on the writing committee for its awards show and was a member of its Board of Directors. He continued to love animals and discovered his passion for Boston Terriors. He traveled abroad as part of South Texas' International Studies program and graduated with a Doctor's of Jurisprudence from South Texas in 2002. While in law school, Randy continued to work for his family businesses and after a brief time in Dallas, Texas, he moved back to Crockett where he was involved in Carrabba Enterprises, the Showbox Magazine, and the Texas Junior Livestock Association. He returned to Houston in 2004 where he renewed his active membership in the Diana Foundation and served the association in various capacities. He was a member of the Board of Directors, served as second vice-president and was the chairman of Diana's Country Dinner for the past two years. He also supported various animal causes such as Saving Animals Across Borders and actively sponsored activities for both the Diana's and the Bayou City Boy's Club while maintaining residences in both Houston and Crockett. He served as the Legal Counsel for the Texas Junior Livestock Association. Randy had the biggest heart of anyone that ever lived. His kindnesses to friends, family, and total strangers endeared him to those who met him. He impacted the lives all those that he met. His great kindness towards animals and those less fortunate and his unbounded generosity will leave an imprint on all of us for the rest of our lives. He is survived by his mother, Cherie Rash Carrabba; his stepfather, John Ben Carrabba; and his brother, Ryan Rash, all of Crockett; his father, Billy Rash and stepmother Jane Rash of Willis, Texas; his grandmother, Lois Rash of Baytown and his stepgrandfather Lloyd Parker of Marble Falls. He is also survived by his aunts, Michelle Howles of Georgetown, and Wanda Stafford, Edna Smith, and Doris Sherron of Baytown, and his aunt Francis Pederson of Los Fresnos, as well as their spouses and numerous cousins. His beloved Boston Terriers, Lula Belle, Falco, and Gizmo, also survive him. Other survivors include friends whom he considered family members: Bill Poplin, and Billy Underwood of Houston, and William Lewis of Crockett. He viewed his other close friends from Houston as a "Band of Brothers" and was devoted to them and to the causes of human rights. The imprint that he left on the hearts of those that he left behind will be there forever. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening on Sunday, the 4th of January, in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Crockett, 701 East Goliad Avenue in Crockett, Texas. A celebration of Randy's life will be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 5th of January, also in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Crockett, where Dr. Jerry House, Pastor, will officiate. The interment will follow, via an escorted cortege, in a private cemetery situated at the family's home, La Bella Vista. La Bella Vista is accessible from State Highway 21 West in Crockett. Kindly note that motorists traveling from Houston to Crockett, so as to attend the services, should estimate an approximate travel time of two hours. If desired, contributions in Randy's memory may be directed to the American Boston Terrier Rescue Fund, P. O. Box 525, Sanger, TX, 76266. Arrangements in Houston and Crockett are entrusted to Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, The Funeral Directors Since 1936.
RANDALL E. "RANDY" RASH, beloved son, brother, and friend, died in Saint Luke's Episcopal Hospital on the 2nd of January 2009, following a brief illness. Randy was born on the 10th of January 1975, in Grapeland, Texas, to Billy W. Rash and Cherie Moller Rash. His birth was a pivotal event in the life of his mother and his father. As his mother Cherie said, "When I held Randy, I first understood the meaning of the term love." After spending his first 10 years in the Gulf Coast area, Randy and members of his family moved to Crockett, Texas. Randy was an enormously popular student and a member of the first Honors classes formed at Crockett High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society, the Drama Club, the Spanish Club, and the Crockett High School Band. He was a cast member of the award winning UIL One Act Play cast and was chosen as a member of the District All Star Cast. He served as president of his class both his junior and senior year in high school and was president of the Crockett High School FFA. He won many honors in the FFA and was one of the youngest district presidents. He was elected Mr. Crockett High School his senior year in high school where he graduated with honors. In addition, Randy was an extremely successful livestock exhibitor. He traveled throughout the United States exhibiting steers. The trophy room in his mother's home is filled with honors won by Randy and his brother Ryan during their careers as junior livestock exhibitors. During this time, he exhibited five breed champions at the Houston Livestock Show, the Grand Champion Steer at the State Fair of Texas, the Grand Champion Steer at the National Western in Denver, the Grand Champion FFA steer at the American Royal in Kansas City, and the Reserve Grand Champion Steer at the San Antonio Livestock Show. He was a member of the Texas Junior Livestock Association and served as president of the Texas Club Calf Association Junior Board of Directors for two years. He won top honors in the TCCA and was named the TCCA All-Around Champion Steer exhibitor. After graduating from high school, Randy set off for Texas A & M University in College Station. He was a member of the Saddle and Sirloin Club and as a freshman was chosen to chair the TAMU Saddle and Sirloin Steer and Heifer Futurity. His personality and enthusiasm attracted many close and enduring friends. He served as a member of National Champion TAMU Evaluation team under the coaching of Dr. Larry Boleman. He graduated with honors from Texas A&M with a degree in Agricultural Journalism. Immediately following his graduation, he served as a Congressional Intern in the offices of United States Congressman Jim Turner. After returning from Washington D.C., Randy went to work for some of his family's businesses in Crockett, Texas. He was an Administrative Assistant for his stepfather, John Ben Carrabba, and was a graphic artist for The Showbox Magazine, the livestock magazine founded by his mother. In 1999, Randy moved to Houston to attend South Texas College of Law. It was during his time in law school that he formed some of the lasting friendships of his life. He became a member of the Diana Foundation, served on the writing committee for its awards show and was a member of its Board of Directors. He continued to love animals and discovered his passion for Boston Terriors. He traveled abroad as part of South Texas' International Studies program and graduated with a Doctor's of Jurisprudence from South Texas in 2002. While in law school, Randy continued to work for his family businesses and after a brief time in Dallas, Texas, he moved back to Crockett where he was involved in Carrabba Enterprises, the Showbox Magazine, and the Texas Junior Livestock Association. He returned to Houston in 2004 where he renewed his active membership in the Diana Foundation and served the association in various capacities. He was a member of the Board of Directors, served as second vice-president and was the chairman of Diana's Country Dinner for the past two years. He also supported various animal causes such as Saving Animals Across Borders and actively sponsored activities for both the Diana's and the Bayou City Boy's Club while maintaining residences in both Houston and Crockett. He served as the Legal Counsel for the Texas Junior Livestock Association. Randy had the biggest heart of anyone that ever lived. His kindnesses to friends, family, and total strangers endeared him to those who met him. He impacted the lives all those that he met. His great kindness towards animals and those less fortunate and his unbounded generosity will leave an imprint on all of us for the rest of our lives. He is survived by his mother, Cherie Rash Carrabba; his stepfather, John Ben Carrabba; and his brother, Ryan Rash, all of Crockett; his father, Billy Rash and stepmother Jane Rash of Willis, Texas; his grandmother, Lois Rash of Baytown and his stepgrandfather Lloyd Parker of Marble Falls. He is also survived by his aunts, Michelle Howles of Georgetown, and Wanda Stafford, Edna Smith, and Doris Sherron of Baytown, and his aunt Francis Pederson of Los Fresnos, as well as their spouses and numerous cousins. His beloved Boston Terriers, Lula Belle, Falco, and Gizmo, also survive him. Other survivors include friends whom he considered family members: Bill Poplin, and Billy Underwood of Houston, and William Lewis of Crockett. He viewed his other close friends from Houston as a "Band of Brothers" and was devoted to them and to the causes of human rights. The imprint that he left on the hearts of those that he left behind will be there forever. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening on Sunday, the 4th of January, in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Crockett, 701 East Goliad Avenue in Crockett, Texas. A celebration of Randy's life will be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 5th of January, also in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Crockett, where Dr. Jerry House, Pastor, will officiate. The interment will follow, via an escorted cortege, in a private cemetery situated at the family's home, La Bella Vista. La Bella Vista is accessible from State Highway 21 West in Crockett. Kindly note that motorists traveling from Houston to Crockett, so as to attend the services, should estimate an approximate travel time of two hours. If desired, contributions in Randy's memory may be directed to the American Boston Terrier Rescue Fund, P. O. Box 525, Sanger, TX, 76266. Arrangements in Houston and Crockett are entrusted to Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, The Funeral Directors Since 1936.
