Randall Bruce McPherson (Randy) was born November 13, 1954 in Marietta, Georgia to James Richard (JR) McPherson and Shirley Jean McPherson. He passed peacefully December 19, 2018.
His family moved frequently before settling in Thayer, Missouri in 1963. In 1975, he joined the United States Air Force. While stationed at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California, he met his life long love, Catharine Parker Verhines. They were married in 1978. He spent a year stationed at Osan Air Force Base in Korea, then was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada. While living in Las Vegas, he had two children. After the service, he operated a drywall business in Las Vegas and was an over the road truck driver for a short period of time. In 1987, he moved to Northern California and worked for Parker Diving Service as a salvage scuba diver. In 1990, he moved his family back to Thayer, Missouri. He established McPherson Welding in 1992, which he operated until December 2013. He was diagnosed with ALS in May of 2014. He faced the disease with the same practical and realistic attitude that he applied to his life and work.
He loved his family, golfing, scuba diving, snow and water skiing, riding his motorcycle and traveling. He toured Colorado on a motorcycle in 2013. In 2015, it was a round trip road trip to Vancouver British Columbia, a cruise to Alaska and Mount Denali, visiting many national parks along the way.
He is survived by his wife of forty years, Catharine; two children: Trisha Fowler and husband, Tim, of Maize, Kansas, and Travis McPherson of Lawton, Oklahoma; three grandsons who adored their Grumpy Grampy, Dominic McPherson, Dylan Fowler and Nash Fowler; two brothers, Rodger McPherson and wife, Dawn, of Thayer, Missouri and Kevin McPherson of Paragould, Arkansas; his close friends, Paula and Bob Richardson and Delores Bennett; and a multitude of other relatives and friends, of whom many were very special to him. He was preceded in death by his parents James (JR) and Shirley McPherson.
A Celebration of Life will be held January 12, 2018 at 4:00pm at the Christian Activity Center in Thayer, Missouri.
Family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to ALS in Randy’s memory. www.alsa.org
Local arrangements are under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. of Thayer, Missouri.