David Randall (Randy) Reeves peacefully left the bounds of Earth and entered the presence of his Lord Jesus Christ on Friday, Oct. 6. He was 73. Randy was born on Nov. 8, 1949, in Knox City. He was the second of three sons of Hubert Arnold Reeves, a U.S. Army veteran who served our nation in WWII, participated in the Normandy Invasion, and subsequently worked as a farmer and rancher, and LaRue Burgess, his vivacious and loving mother who was an elementary teacher and county school counselor. They made their home on a small farm inGilliland, among expansive cotton and wheat fields, and opportunities for a young Randy to learn the family farm business by driving a tractor at the tender age of 12 – for an initial wage of 25 cents an hour. He made a public declaration of his faith in the Lord when he was baptized in the late 1950’s at Gilliland Baptist Church by Brother Dick Williams.
Randy attended Munday High School and followed the footsteps of his older brother Dwight onto the gridiron as a Munday Mogul football player. After graduation, Randy attended Southwest Texas State in San Marcos, where he cultivated many lifelong friendships and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business. Fresh out of college Randy returned home to work the family farm with his father. He was married to Diana Allen, his high school sweetheart, and they made their home in Gilliland before relocating to Marietta, OK. to work for Horseshoe Bend Ranch. They had two daughters, Dana Elaine and Amy Jean. They were together more than two decades before divorcing. Randy continued to farm and ranch and later worked as a truck driver. It was during his travels as a driver where Randy met the new love of his life, Barbara Ellen Shelley. As their relationship grew, they spent countless hours on the open road exploring the beauty of our diverse nation. They married on Nov. 18, 2005, in Las Vegas, NV, and lived on Randy’s farm with its windswept fields, horses and cattle, and faithful cow dog, Whittie. Randy and Barbara found joy in the simple routines of life –watching rodeo on television, enjoying a meal at B.G.’s Catch in Kingston, visiting Windstar Casino for entertainment, and attending Cooke County Cowboy Church in nearby Gainesville. They celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary in 2022 before Barbara passed away in April 2023.
Randy is survived by his brothers Dwight (Donna) of Decatur, and Lyndle (Jeannette) of Munday; daughters Dana Schmitt (Justin) of San Antonio, and Amy Thayer (Mike) of Sand Springs, OK.
Randy enjoyed special relationships with Barbara’s two sons, Johnny Emery (Martha) of Ben Davis of Missouri and Chester Huffman (Deborah) of Amarillo, and Penny Wilson of Sullivan, MO.
They adored their many grandchildren, whom they loved to visit.
A celebration of Randy’s life was held on Friday, Oct. 13 at Gilliland Baptist Church.
In lieu of gifts, donations can be made in Randy’s name to the Gilliland Cemetery, c/o Charlotte Welch, 8460 CR 3691, Crowell, TX, 79227. The family would like to express deep appreciation to the many friends and community members who have reached out with love and support. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7