Dorothy Randals
Born in the Snyder TX home of her grandparents, J.V. and Sarah Riley, on September 16th, 1928, Dorothy Louise Riley Randals was the 6th of seven children of Ira and Anna Katheryn Lanham Riley.
She died on November 10th, 2021 in Logan NM at Autumn Blessing Assisted Living where she had lived for the past 10 months.
The diary entry of Dorothy’s mother on September 16th, 1928 has one sentence, “Little Dorothy Louise came to live with us today.” Dorothy was the only child to be born “in town” instead of on the family ranch, due to complications. The complications resolved, as at 93 years of age she lived to be the last of all the siblings. She was also one of the last three grandchildren of Snyder pioneers J.V. and Sarah Riley. These paternal grandparents had arrived in Scurry County TX in a wagon drawn by 6 oxen. Dorothy maintained a lifelong interest in TX history. As an 8-year-old acrobat she was the headliner act for Miss Elaine’s Performers in cities across TX during the 1936 Centennial in” TX Stars on Parade.” Miss Elaine’s group also performed on TX railroad platforms for WWII soldier transport trains.
Having been the shop girl and very young market buyer for Eula Keller’s Hollywood Shop on the Courthouse Square in Snyder during the oil boom, she did leave TX when she married Jimmie Randals in 1949. They came to Montoya NM to the ranch where she lived until he died and her health declined.
Together they danced to Bob Wills, Hoyle and Jody Nix, raised a family and became known for their Quarter Horses. Dorothy was a Deacon and then an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. She also played bridge in Tucumcari for 60 years every Thursday and was the Poultry and Rabbit Dept. chairperson at The Quay County Fair for decades. She was a founding member of the Tucumcari Historical Research Institute and Museum and began the tradition of planning the NM History trips sponsored by this group.
Dorothy Randals is survived by two children, Jina Vick of Tucumcari NM, Richard Randals (Linda Sims Randals) of Montoya NM. Grandchildren are Misty Vick Ramos (Neil) of Lubbock TX, John David Vick (Mackenzie) of Ft. Worth TX, Anna Zamora (Daniel) of Tucumcari NM and Kyle Hagberry (Jackie) of Denver CO. Great grandchildren are Cameron Hendrix, Zoe Gulley, Frankie Ruth Vick, DJ and Krista Zamora, and Robert Turner Hagberry. She is also survived by three sisters in law, Marianne Randals of Snyder TX, Mary Riley of Pella IA, and Mitzi Riley of Ft. Worth TX as well as many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Randals is preceded in death by Jimmie her husband of 62 years, and by her 6 siblings: Geraldine Riley Sims, Lanham Riley, Doyle Riley, Harold Riley, Carolyn Riley Brooks, and James Riley.
Services will be held at 10 AM MTN time Tuesday November 16th at First Presbyterian Church in Tucumcari NM. Following the service, the family will proceed to Snyder TX. There will be Visitation on Wednesday morning from 8 to 10 AM Central Time at Cypert-Seale Funeral Home followed by burial in the J.V. Riley family plot in the Snyder Cemetery.
Pall bearers in Tucumcari are Debbie O’quinn, Tommy D. Wallace, Van Heggelund, Matt Wallace, Brian Priddy, and Jace Priddy. Snyder pall bearers will be nieces and nephews.
Managing the Tucumcari Service is Dunn Funeral Home. If you wish to make any memorial, Dorothy would have them donated to First Presbyterian Church or Tucumcari Historical Research Institute and Museum.