Randy Jack O’Neal, 66, of Poplar Bluff, died February 10, 2021.
Randy was born in Hays, Kansas on May 4, 1954. He graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas in 1976 with a degree in Psychology. He worked for a short time with the Boy Scouts of American and Sears Youth Center. He obtained his Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from Arkansas State and worked as a licensed professional counselor for 40 years in Poplar Bluff. He was respected as a skilled and caring mental health professional who did not hesitate to take on difficult cases because he sincerely cared about providing quality treatment to anyone in need. He was an insightful listener and at times a valued mentor to his coworkers who appreciated Randy’s solid “moral compass.” Randy was a devoted husband and father and enjoyed family travels to new places with new food experiences. He was a great cook and loved to cook foreign dishes for family and friends. Randy fished relentlessly when he could, spending hours in the cold waters of the Spring and White Rivers. He loved the Gulf and enjoyed years of family vacations there while consuming the local seafood. Randy never knew a project he could not tackle and was a handy carpenter and neophyte beekeeper. He loved to shop. He practiced the art of making a short story long. He loved music of all kinds but John Prine was his favorite and he cried unashamedly when he heard “Sam Stone” sung in concert. He had a keen sense of humor and he was a loyal friend to all who knew him. He always spoke from his heart and he had a soft and caring soul.
Randy is survived by his wife, Terry; his son, Jacob and daughter, Katelyn; his stepmother, Neola O’Neal of Salina Kansas; his brothers, Ron and Bob O’Neal and his stepsiblings, Steve, Linda and Terry. He was preceded in death by his mother, Evelyn Sims O’Neal and his father, Jack O’Neal.