Uncle Randy Musselman

As I was helping Yessa unpack and organize her room on August 14, I got the text from my mom that her only brother, my uncle Randy, had passed away. We knew he was in the hospital, but thought he would be going home on hospice care, so the message was a surprise.

I flew home for a lightning visit to attend the visitation and funeral. It was good to be with Mom, good to see cousins I had not seen in decades, and good to be together to celebrate this loving, funny, kind human.

The full obituary and memorial video may be viewed here.

The three remaining sisters spoke at the service, and gave a lovely, well-rounded picture of Uncle Randy as a child and young man. He was the only boy, and the second in age, right before Babs, and they were close. Uncle Randy had given Mom's best friend from high school, Nadine, an engagement ring at Christmas, and Mom was so thrilled at the idea of having Nadine as a sister-in-law. We'll be forever grateful that Uncle Randy had Nadine as his companion, support, and friend at the end of his life.

Uncle Randy was the last person who ever called me "Jeffiner" a nickname coined by another uncle who has already died, so we'll be retiring that one.

Babs, I am so sorry for your loss. He was a good brother, a good uncle, a good human.