Randall Henry Tollison
July 3, 1950 – May 4, 2024
Randall Henry Tollison passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family and friends on May 4, 2024 at the age of 73, in Daniel, Wyo. He battled progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) for many years, but he never let it change his spirit and sense of humor. He was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend.
Randy was born in Visalia, Calif., on July 3, 1950. He was the youngest child of R.H. and Lucille Tollison. In his early years, he lived in Hayward, Calif., and St. Maries, Idaho, and the family eventually moved back to Visalia in 1961. He graduated from Redwood High School in 1968. He then attended College of the Sequoias and earned an Associate of Arts in Agriculture. He went to work for Jostens Printing and Publishing and retired in 2005 as Plant Maintenance Supervisor. In 1973, he met Debi Brewster and they began dating, spending hours courting over their CB radios. They married on Nov. 20, 1976, in Visalia. In 1978, they bought a house and acreage in Cutler, Calif., where they raised their four children. In 2001, Randy and Debi purchased land in Daniel. Over the next few years, Randy built the house with his own two hands, with the help of his son Ryan, best friends Nancy and Steve, and other family and friends.
Randy was an avid hunter and fisherman. As a child and teenager he spent every year hunting with his dad, uncles and relatives. As an adult, he shared his love of hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren. Randy was also interested in gold panning and prospecting, and building log furniture. Randy loved spending time with his family. He taught his children and grandchildren how to shoot a rifle, how to bait a hook and cast a rod (he was always the first to catch a fish though!).
He was so loved and will be missed by so many.
Randy was preceded in death by his parents, R.H. and Lucille Tollison, and his sister, Liz Jones. He is survived by his wife, Debra Tollison; his sister Sandra Chilton (Bob) of Albany, Oregon, his brother Stan Tollison (Gail) of Mesa, Arizona, and his brother in law Lance Brewster of Merced, Calif.; his children, Melissa Kevorkian (Aram) of Hanford, California, Sarah Tollison (Dylan Stanton) of Pinedale, Wyo., Rebecca Williams (Ryan) of Evanston, Wyo., and Ryan Tollison (Hillary) of Daniel. He was Papa to his nine precious grandchildren — Katherine Kevorkian of Fresno, Calif., Kody Kevorkian of Hanford, Calif., Dylan Covert, David Covert, Kaycee Covert, and Daxton Stanton of Pinedale, Jackson Williams of Evanston, and Ryder Tollison and Ellie Tollison of Daniel. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services under the direction of Covill Funeral Home will be held on Friday, May 10, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Pinedale. Viewing at noon, service at 1 p.m. MST, with graveside service and reception immediately following. A live stream of the service can be viewed at www.ebcpinedale.org/live.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Cure PSP wwwcurepsp.org.
