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| Randall
E. "Randy" Rash |
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 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.
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