Randall Alan Cranford went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on the morning of January 19, 2021, at Alliance Health Center in Ponca City, OK. He was surrounded by his loving wife and son after a brief battle with Covid-19. He was baptized by Father Zachary Boazman of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and received Confirmation and the Last Rites of the Catholic Faith per his wishes.
Randy was born on January 28, 1954 to Artus Alvin and Lois Catherine Cranford at Ponca City Hospital. He received his education in the Ponca City schools and graduated from Ponca City High School with the class of 1972. He worked several jobs after graduation, including building some of the blue silos in the Kay and Pawnee County areas. In 1974, he joined the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged, having achieved the rank of E-3 sergeant until he was reduced in rank after refusing to cut his long curly hair. Randy went to work at Williams Rock Bit in Tonkawa, OK, which later became Smith-Gruners in Ponca City. He worked there almost 44 years and retired when the plant was relocated.
In 1979, he was introduced to his future wife, Karan Louise Evans, by their mutual friend, Donna Horinek-Potter. They were married on December 5, 1980 at the Hartford Avenue Church of Christ. On November 15, 1983, the couple welcomed their only child, a son, named Andrew Ryan.Randy’s hobbies were junking and trading lawn mowers with his friend, Bill Martin. He loved his prized English Bulldog named Bully, and would sing “Jesus Loves My Little Bulldog” to him every day. He took special pride in his grand-daughters, Alice Louise and Emma Noel Cranford with whom he loved to cook breakfast and sit on his porch and to talk to.
At the time of his death, he and Karan were living on their farm north of Ponca City. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Janice Kay Cranford, and his father and mother-in-law, James and Faye Evans of Newkirk, OK. Randy’s family has chosen cremation and ask in lieu of flowers or food that donations be made to the Mission in Ponca City, the Ponca City Humane Society, or the Tornado Alley Bulldog Rescue. Memorial services will be announced by the family at a later date.
Randy is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Karan, his son Andrew and his daughter-in-law Autumn Cranford of Mustang, his two beloved granddaughters, Alice and Emma, his beloved bulldog Bully, and his Chihuahua Gus. He is also survived by his Uncle Don and Aunt Earlene Waters of Ponca City, and his cousin Connie Truex, of Fort Worth, TX, and special family member Erin Hamm- Barton and her family.
The family would like to name the following friends as honorary pall-bearers: Todd Wanko, John Leven, John Mathews, Bill Martin, Dee Bannister, Bill Bannister, Michael Harding, Dale Bentley, Calvin Miller, Chris Barton, Dewayne Gray, and posthumously Sam Potter. Remembrances may be shared online at www.stittsworthfuneralservices.com
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