Randall Wayne Smith

Randall Wayne Smith was released from pain on December 17, 2022, following complications due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 63. Born on February 4, 1959, in Jacksonville, FL, Randall was adopted on April 15, 1959, by Robert (Bob) Lewis and Florece (Tolar) Smith of Quincy, FL. He used to joke that his adoption date was prophetic because he eventually became a CPA. He also liked to tell everyone that his first Christmas present was his baby brother Gary. The two boys were not only close in age but very close in life. They shared a love of sports while growing up in Quincy and participated together in several. In high school football, Randall was fullback to Gary’s quarterback, and in baseball, Randall was catcher to Gary’s pitcher. In sports and in life, Randall always felt fortunate to have this brotherly bond. Growing up, Randall learned the construction business while working many hours at his father’s place of employment, Kwilecki’s Hardware in Quincy. In yet another prophetic twist of fate akin to his adoption date, Randall’s dad was a partner in the hardware business with Albert Kohnke, the father of Randall’s future bride, Mary Frances Kohnke. Randall was an eager apprentice and many of the skills he learned there served him well later in life. One of Randall’s greatest passions was the fast-paced, adrenaline pumping world of cars and amateur racing. This interest was sparked and nurtured by his Uncle Glen Smith. In 1979 Uncle Glen and Aunt Alice surprised Randall and Gary with tickets to one of the greatest annual events in racing, the Daytona 500. The brothers packed into their own (significantly less supped-up) car and took a road trip together from Quincy to create a treasured memory. Ever since then, Randall frequently relived this memory whenever he watched the race on TV. Reminiscing on that time years later, Randall often complained how stock car races had lost their fire, even going so far as to water down their formerly hot-rodder names. He would lament that race names nowadays just reflect boring corporate sponsors such as the Firecracker 400 is now the Coke Zero Sugar 400. Though fonder of past days, this corporate moniker takeover was never enough to dampen Randall’s love for the sport, and the world of fast cars and roaring engines. In 1982, Randall and Gary decided to take another road trip, this time accompanied by Mary Frances, her sister Karen and their friends, Blaine Blount and Jackie Parramore. They drove out west to Houston, TX to visit Mary’s sister, Patty, who was living there at the time, and to pick up a passenger—Mary’s brother, Steven. While driving through Houston, Randall was blown away by both the amount of traffic in the tangled streets as well as the sizes of the expressways (so many lanes, but no less congestion). Randall and Gary indulged their passion for baseball by attending a game at the Astrodome. On another day, they all piled into the Kohnke’s station wagon and took in the sites at Houston’s famous Galleria shopping mall. At the Galleria they caught an exhibition by U.S. Gold Medal winner (1968) for ice skating, Peggy Fleming. Randall and Mary Frances both grew up in Quincy. In fact, Randall often told people he could not remember a time when he did not know Mary Frances, since they had known each other since early childhood. However, they didn’t start dating until the summer of 1980. Randall attended FSU during this time while Mary Frances was at UF (though Mary Frances’s allegiance always remained with the Seminoles). Randall would go on to graduate from FSU with a B.S. in accounting, an interest that had developed from observing his dad’s bookkeeping duties at work. Randall’s first job after graduation was as a staff accountant with Purvis-Gray & Co. in Gainesville, FL. In the summer of 1986, Randall Smith married Mary Frances Kohnke. Shortly after their honeymoon in sunny Jamaica, Randall received word that he’d passed his CPA exams. Soon afterwards, he became a partner in Woodberry & Smith CPAs. As fate would have it, this entailed a move back to Randall and Mary Frances’s hometown, Quincy. Five years later, in 1991, his son, Christopher, was born. Around 1993, Randall branched out with the opening of his own CPA firm, Randall W. Smith & Associates. Several years later he formed a partnership with Chris Moran, another former CPA from Purvis Gray & Co. This new enterprise came to be known as Moran & Smith, LLP. With the stresses of an expanding business, Randall always maintained that he never wanted to take another battery of exams, but he did just that. In 2018 he passed the exam to become a Personal Financial Specialist through the AICPA and remained in this position until his death four years later. Randall maintained an incredible number of hobbies and activities, even while supporting a family and growing business. He was involved in many clubs and organizations including the Knights of Columbus and the Quincy Rotary Club. Always an avid reader, Randall could speak on a wide variety of subjects. Randall’s additional interests included motorcycles, horses, sailing, woodworking, and construction. His construction interest ended up making Randall an excellent handyman and able to fix anything around the house—even plumbing. His interest in sailing led him to be involved for many years with a sailboat racing team captained by Don Reeder. They often raced on Apalachee Bay and the team was also very successful the few years they raced in Panama City. As a father, Randall took great interest in his son’s education and after-school activities. He supported his wife’s passion for horses and made an excellent groom. He was also her #1 fan. He himself ended up developing a keen interest in riding and became a bold rider who loved jumping and dressage. Randall was a tremendously supportive and loving husband and father, a beautiful man inside and out. A true southern gentleman who will be greatly missed by his family and friends. His is a loss that will be keenly felt for many years. He is preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Florece Smith. He is survived by his loving wife Mary Frances Smith, his devoted son Christopher Smith, his brother Gary Smith, his Uncle Glen and Aunt Alice Smith as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. Visitation will be from Sunday, January 8, 2023, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. at Bevis Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Monday, January 9, 2023, at 10:30 AM at Good Shepherd Catholic Church. There will be a reception at the church following the Mass with a graveside service at approximately 1:30 PM at Roselawn Cemetery in Tallahassee. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Big Bend Hospice's Margaret Dozier Hospice House or to Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Jared Padgett of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com).

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Randall Wayne Smith

February 4, 1959 - December 17, 2022