Thomas Jay Randall
August 1, 1935 - March 7, 2012

Thomas Jay Randall was born August 1, 1935, to Doris and Mac Randall in Toledo, Ohio. Two years later he became big brother to William Randall. When he passed away March 7, 2012, he had been preceded by his family.

Seems simple. A man is born, lives his life on Earth, and in a natural order follows his parents into the next world. Not really.

In 1951 Tom met Dlorah Kay Davis. They married September 2, 1956, in Durango, Colorado. Their marriage was an adventure that carried them from Durango, to Farmington, New Mexico to Hobbs, New Mexico, to Kermit and Odessa, Texas to Altus, Oklahoma, and to where they found their home in Farmers Branch, Texas in 1965. Through 56 years of marriage, excepting 10 years of divorce, they accomplished much in their family: Michael Kent and his wife Denise; Michelle Anne and her children Courtney, Danielle, and Michael; Daniel Davis, his former wife Tommy Sue and children Sarah Rene and Scott Thomas; Douglas Mac and wife Raynette and their daughters Heather Marie and Andrea; and David Ray, his wife Drinda, and their children Richard Lyell, Forestt Christian, and David Ryan. They also have four great-grandchildren Hunter, Nicholas, Justice, and Rachel. Tom and Kay continued to enjoy a close relationship to Tom’s sister-in-law Drusilla Randall and their niece and nephews Cathy and her husband Jim Schampers; Bill and Sonya Randall, Jr.; and Mike and Kathy Randall. Further, Tom is remembered by his grandnieces and grandnephews Tony and Genera Manning and their children Sherica, Edward and Nathan; Michelle and Raul Diaz and their children Maleah and Matthew; Matt and Terri Schampers and their child Julie; Chelsey Randall, Eric and Megan Vasquez, Kristin and Joe Salcido and their child Ava; Laurin (Lolly) and Kenneth Malone and their child Monique; Ashley and Victor Sanchez and their Children Evolett, Syprus, and Sage. Though Tom and Kay owned and operated Texas Jewelry, these were the jewels that adorned their life together.

Tom began his working life as a grease monkey in a gas station in Durango, Colorado. There he met Bob Schmitz. Bob took Tom out of the Texaco station, dressed him in a corduroy sports coat and put him to work at Bob Schmitz’s Men’s Wear. There Bob taught him men’s furnishings. There he learned style and the art of sales. He soon moved to Dunlop’s department stores, where he was a trouble-shooter for stores in crisis. When he moved to furniture sales he began selling diamond rings on the side. He traveled throughout Oklahoma and Northeast Texas at this time. Soon he asked Kay to come look at Dallas and a small jewelry store that was for sale. This was the birth of Texas Jewelry. After 46 years as a family owned enterprise, it’s still in operation as a living legacy of Tom Randall, businessman.

Tom defined the term entrepreneur. He was a speculator who believed in the adage, “There is a buyer for everything under the sun.” In addition to Texas Jewelry, he speculated in several businesses. His favorite was his car business. He collected and restored unique cars then sold them to make room for more. He was a shark on e-Bay. Look for his sales and auctions on today! Another business was real estate. Tom was always on the look-out for a project. He always made something out of nothing. These were his toys. He was excited to make his moves in each area every day.

He loved babies, boating, dogs, and cats. He collected Jim Beam commemorative bottles, even people; you name it, he collected it!

If there was a dark spot in his life, Tom would say it was his desire to drink. Alcoholism was a disease that robbed Tom, but it also gave him his life back. In 1987 he accepted that he was powerless over his urge to drink and sought help from Bill Wilson’s group: Alcoholics Anonymous. From that time forward, Tom was embraced and in turn embraced his extended family, AA. In January 2012, he celebrated 25 years of sobriety. He graciously gave his time and himself. Some people, when they turn their life around, are quietly grateful. Not Tom R. He gave of himself every day, sometimes three times a day to reach out to those who risked asking for help. He would quietly get up, comb his hair, refresh his cologne, put on his gimme hat, and go. Even on holidays, he would leave the entire Randall clan to receive his strength and in turn give it to another to find the inner strength it takes to endure and eventually regain a healthy life. Tom sponsored a group of fine people. These, his extended family, will continue to represent and be a tribute to the ideals of AA: sane sobriety, friendship, acceptance, guidance, and unconditional love.

Thomas Jay Randall went by many names: Tom, A H, Tommy, Tommy J, Poppa Tom, Tom R., Friend, Sponsor, but his most treasured names were Pop and Poppa. Regardless of what you call Tom Randall, everyone who met him respected his acceptance, wisdom, gentle kindness, and compassion.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Brooks Family Chapel of the North Dallas Funeral Home, 2710 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch, Texas 75234.

Funeral service will be on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 2:00 pm in the Brooks Family Chapel of the North Dallas Funeral Home, 2710 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch, Texas 75234. Burial will follow at Keenan Cemetery on Valley View Lane in Farmers Branch, Texas.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Magdalene House, Shelter Ministries or Nexus Treatment Center.