Lilbern Randell Eller

Graveside services for Lilbern Randell "Randy" Eller, 75, of Oakwood, Texas, were conducted Saturday, October 9, 2021 at the Thomason Family Cemetery in the Guys Store Community, Leon County, Texas. Bro. Tommy Campbell, pastor of Tri-Circle Church, officiated the service.

Randy was born on October 18, 1945 and was the only son of Mollie Jo and Oscar Lilbern Eller. He was baptized and went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 in the Centerville Healthcare Center.

Randy never felt like an only child, as his California cousins, Charlene and Gaylene, (daughters of Chuck and Erin Moomey of Centerville) were always with him either in California or Texas.

Summers were spent on his grandparent's ranch, Jessie Mae and Harold Moore of Texas. He and his California cousins joined two of their very special cousins, Sandy and Jeannie, (daughters of Lester and Bettie Moore of Centerville).

The five cousins played cowboys, gathering cows to spray and vaccinate, doctoring Angora goats, fishing and playing jokes on each other, and always, always waiting for it to get cool enough to ride their horses for entertainment.

One of his greatest adventures as told by Gaylene: One summer Randy and I watched Tom Sawyer on TV and he came up with the exciting idea for us to build a raft and like Tom Sawyer, we would float down the Keechi Creek, which ran through our grandparent's property. We got up at 5 A.M. and saddled our horses. We needed a rope to tie the logs together. Randy looked over at Pappy's saddle and saw the brand new lariat rope. He said, "This looks like a good sturdy rope to hold the logs together." So off we went to build us a raft. Our horses were used to pull the logs and line them up so we could tie them together with the rope. We finally got it made after hours of hard work. We were getting ready to get on the raft and push it off into the creek. About that time the dinner bell rang. We decided to wait until after eating to float down the creek. At dinner Mamo asked us, "What have you kids been doing?" We were so proud and told her we built a raft and were going to float down the creek! Her eyes got big and she blurted out, "You two are not going to do such a thing, you can't even swim!" We protested, "But, we will be on the raft." She said, "You go right back down there and tear that raft apart!" We went back to the raft and decided if we can't ride on it we'll just watch it float down the creek, so we pushed it into the creek where it promptly sank into the bottom....green logs, rope and all. About a week later our Pappy was looking for his new rope and not being able to find it he thought his hired ranch hand, Travis Wilder, had taken it. Travis took the blame for us as he had done several times before to keep us from getting into trouble. In later years we came clean and all had a big laugh about our Tom Sawyer raft.

Randy had many careers in his lifetime. In his high school years, he flipped houses with his real estate parents. He tore down walls, built cabinets, painted and plastered. He liked working with his hands and got his contractor's license.

After graduation in California, he worked at McDonald Douglass Aircraft Company as an inspector for the DC 10 airplanes.

House of Fabrics was his next job. In just a short time, he was promoted to manager in the beachside city of Santa Barbara, California--Ahhhh, living the "California Dream" in his beachfront home. He surfed daily on the 10'6" surfboard he had made. In fact, he had another connection to "surfing"...as he set up equipment for the singing group, "The Beach Boys," they sang "Surfin USA." In the 60's it was one of their biggest hits.

After working for corporations he decided to follow in his dad and grandfather's path and open his own company, "Painting By Randy." As a talented painter he became popular with the movie crowd. Some of his famous clients he painted for were: TV preacher, Fred Price's Church; Rob Reiner,"All In The Family" actor and filmmaker, Andrew Scheinman, TV producer of "Seinfeld" and movie producer of movies, such as, "Stand By Me," etc. and Edith Head, Academy Award Winner for best costume designer for "The Sting."

Probably his best known friend was actor Tony Dow, known as "Wally" on "Leave It To Beaver." He was an actor, producer and director. In the 1970's Tony worked construction where he met and worked with Randy and they became very good friends through the years. Randy decided to pull a joke on his cousin, Charlene. He told her he needed to pick up a saw at a construction worker's house. Much to her surprise, it was Tony Dow's house! He met them at his door only wearing a towel! Boy, did she have a fun story to tell her friends.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Mollie Jo and Oscar Eller; aunt and uncle, Erin and Chuck Moomey; aunt, Marie Moore; cousins, Tommy Moore and Brandon Prahm (Gaylene's son who called him Uncle Randy) and Jeannie Stewart.

Left to cherish his memory are his uncle, Dr. Harold "Bill" Moore and cousins, Gaylene Moomey, Charlene and Patrick Hargrove, Karen and Lynn Spikes, Dr. Brent and Chrissy Moore, and Sandy and Mike Ray, as well as, numerous cousins, along with best friends, Bob Burch, Rex Sluggett, Claudia Babbit and Mini Stewart and so much more.

Walters Funeral Home, Centerville, Texas was entrusted with arrangements.