Randy Austin

Teasdale, Utah - William Randall Austin, age 66, died peacefully in the home he loved in Teasdale, Utah on June 17, 2015. He was born January 21, 1949 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a son of James Granison and Gertrude Mable Hart Austin. He married Shirley Jean McClimek, January 29, 1965 in Randolph, Utah. They were later divorced. He married Jeanie Marie McDonald in 1969 in San Francisco, California. They were later divorced. Randy married the love of his life, Claudia Jacobsen on the 4th of July in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1974. She passed away September 7, 2004. Randy was well known as an entrepreneur in the small town of Torrey, Utah. He and his wife Claudia, purchased the Chuckwagon in 1973 after a wrong road on a trip to Lake Powell led to a right road and to a bright future. Randy loved serving the community in many ways. Randy was the Torrey Fire Chief for several years, later becoming the Wayne County Fire Marshal. He served under Governor Michael Leavitt on the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board for four years. He also volunteered for the Wayne County EMS as an ambulance driver and driver trainer for many years. The highlight of Randy's day would be to sit on the old bench in front of his store, welcoming visitors, drinking coffee and talking politics to anyone that would listen. If you knew Randy, you knew you wouldn't win a healthy political debate. Randy enjoyed greeting friends and visitors alike. Randy never met a stranger and welcomed all he met. We will greatly miss his mustache clad smile and many stories. Randy is survived by his children: Joyce and Dennis Butcher of Richfield; Sheri and Michael Clark, James and Christine Austin, all of Torrey; Chelsea Austin of San Francisco, California; 15 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sisters: Joyce Austin Latham of Littleton, Colorado; Diane Elizabeth Chisholm of Phoenix, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Claudia; his parents: JG "Jimmy" and Gertrude M. Austin; a grandson, Tanner Jordan Butcher; a brother, James "Gig" Carder Austin; and a brother-in-law: Albert D. "Bud" Latham. Funeral services will be held Monday, June 22, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. in the Torrey LDS Ward Chapel, where friends may call for viewing Sunday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. or Monday morning from 11:00 to 12:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Torrey Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.