Randy Keith Carter, 77, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2025 after a years-long battle with Alzheimer's and COPD. A memorial service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Stillwater First United Methodist Church. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Randy was born on April 30, 1947, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Keith and Betty (Roades) Carter. He spent his early childhood in Stillwater with his younger sister, Linda, and enjoyed fishing at Theta Pond on the OSU campus. The Carters later moved to York, Nebraska, followed by Overland Park, Kansas.

After graduating high school in 1965, Randy first attended Kansas State College in Pittsburg, Kansas, and played on the golf team. He ultimately returned to Stillwater and transferred to Oklahoma State University, where he majored in business. While at OSU, he met Karen Ridley of Duncan, Oklahoma, and the two were married on May 22, 1971 - the start of their nearly 54 years together.

Randy was drafted into the U.S. Army and served one year in Vietnam. He completed his business degree at OSU in 1972, and he and Karen settled in Stillwater where he began his career in insurance. He loved his work and the opportunities it gave to interact with and help people. With his warm personality and quick wit, Randy always had a joke or a story to share.

In 1985, Randy and Karen moved to Edmond and welcomed their son, Chase, the following year. Randy had a passion for gardening, and his perfectly manicured lawns often stopped passersby who couldn't resist reaching down to see if the grass was real. He also enjoyed evenings on the patio feeding the Koi fish in his pond.

In 1993, Randy and longtime friend Jim Crutchfield founded Carter Crutchfield Incorporated, a regional insurance marketing firm. Through CCI, they built a vast network of friends and colleagues across the country, often traveling with their families around the world and creating lasting memories.

Randy was a fiercely loyal friend to many and never hesitated to pick up the phone to check in on loved ones. Phone calls with Randy were always engaging and entertaining, filled with genuine conversation. Later in life, he also enjoyed handing out play million-dollar bills to friends and strangers alike, always asking them to let him know if they were able to spend it.

In 2023, Randy and Karen returned to Stillwater, moving into Legacy Village to be closer to Chase, his husband, Coleman Hickman, and their two beloved grand dogs. He loved sitting on his patio in the warm sun watching golfers at Lakeside Golf Course-where he once made a hole-in-one-and always loved watching and talking about the weather.

A lifelong OSU fan, Randy was a devoted Cowboy football season ticket holder for decades. He treasured spending fall Saturdays watching the Cowboys with his family and following other OSU sports - especially golf. Even in his final years, he would light up whenever he saw someone wearing an OSU shirt, enthusiastically pointing out, "Cowboys!" Though his health problems affected him greatly, they were never able to take his Cowboy spirit or his love for his family and friends.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Linda Cole; and nephews, Justin and Jeff Crook. He is survived by his wife, Karen; son, Chase; son-in-law, Coleman; brother- and sister-in-law, Tony and Tonya Ridley; brother- and sister-in-law, Ronnie and Sharon Crook; brother- and sister-in-law, Jim Cole and Ellen Orrill; cousins, Joe and Nancy Leake, and Arlen and Ellen Steers; several nieces and nephews; and many loving friends.

Karen, Chase and Coleman would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Legacy Village of Stillwater, Stillwater Medical Center, Cornerstone Caregiving, and Judith Karman Hospice, along with caregivers Lucy Pinson and Torie Cartwright, for their personal care and support during Randy's final ride in Stillwater. Those wishing to honor Randy's life and Cowboy pride may do so by contributing in his memory to the OSU General Scholarship Fund through the OSU Foundation at OSUgiving.com or P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749.