Randall Dean “Randy” Major, 66, Hays, died Saturday, December 28, 2024 at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice at Via Christi St. Francis, Wichita.
He was born January 20, 1958 in Ulysses, the son of Darrell Dean and Alyne (Krause) Major. Randy graduated from Ulysses High School in 1977, Northwest Kansas Area Vocational Technical School in 1979, and Liberal Area Vocational Technical School in 1980. On March 1, 1980 he was united in marriage to Vernell Marie Adams at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ulysses, and they celebrated 44 years of marriage. Randy was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph Knights of Columbus Council #1325, and a volunteer firefighter for 14 years in Ulysses, including being Assistant Fire Chief. He worked for Panhandle Eastern and Mobil in the natural gas fields, was a copy repair technician at Tri-Central Office Supply for nearly 20 years, and most recently worked for Agiliti. Randy enjoyed hunting at his family farm in Dorrance and taking family vacations to Colorado, where he especially loved fishing in the streams and snow skiing.
Survivors include his wife Vernell of Hays, two daughters, Natalie Brown and husband Matt of Hays and their children A.J., Avery, and Nicholas, and Raynell Carpenter and husband Aaron of Norton and their children Mayme, Cora, Maggie, Luke, and Lucy, a son, Brenton Major and wife Kelly of Hays and their children Samuel and Hadley, his mother, Alyne Krause Major Strube of Choctaw, OK, and two sisters, Terry Johnson of Choctaw, OK and LeAnna Larson and husband Chris of Newcastle, OK.
He was preceded in death by his father, his step-father, Donald Strube, his mother-in-law, JoAnn Adams, and a sister, Sheryl Ann Major.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Burial will follow in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Hays. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Wednesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Thursday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A vigil service and a Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:00 pm on Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Church. Condolences and memories of Randy may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com