September 23, 1956 - September 29, 2018
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden death of our dear Randy. Despite fighting a winning battle in recent years with both lupus and cancer, sadly his heart had had enough.
Randy was born in Surrey, the youngest of three children, to Margaret and Cecil Holmes. Here, he grew up and formed important friendships, many of which became lifelong.
From a young age, Randy developed a passion for the theatre, joining the Langley Players Club in his early twenties. His outgoing nature and creativity lent themselves to everything from writing and performing to set design and directing, and his talents were honoured with many awards over the years.
It was through his involvement with the theatre that Randy also met his future wife and mother of his two children. While their marriage didn't last, their friendship remained, and years later Randy met his forever love, Jane.
Jane and Randy met during a production of Musical Comedy Murders in 1990. They spent 21 joy-filled years together, six in Mission, in a beautiful home they renovated together and eventually got married in, in 2005.
In Mission, Randy and Jane formed many strong friendships, and helped establish a local community theatre called Opening Night Theatre, where they performed in and assisted with many fun and successful productions. Sadly, Jane left us too soon, and died in 2011 after a long battle with cancer.
Throughout his life, Randy was an entrepreneur. He owned many businesses, including a trucking business with his siblings and father; a bookkeeping company; and most recently, a pub called The Griffin, in Comox, BC, which he has owned with his brother for the past 15 years.
A few years after Jane's passing, Randy decided to move to Comox with his eldest daughter, joining his brother and friends on Vancouver Island where he has loved his life for the past three years. Although he endured some hard times with his health, these moments instigated the move of his sister to the Island as well, which made him even happier.
In a complex world, Randy favored simplicity, and lived by a few unspoken values: he was honest, kind and generous, without expecting anything in return; he believed in taking care of one another, and the importance of community and family; in working hard(ish); spreading laughter; and when he loved somebody, boy did they ever know it.
Randy played many roles in his life, on the stage and off, but those we are most grateful for are as brother, son, husband, father and friend. His thoughtful words, wisdom, creative ideas and cheeky wit will be missed dearly, but perhaps most of all, his hugs.
Randy continues to be loved by his children, Amy (Steven) and Katie (Erich), his grandson Theodore Randall (born Oct. 11, 2018), his siblings Barry and Sharon, and countless friends, whom he considered family.
A wake will be held in celebration of Randy's life; his family asks for your patience as they process this great loss, and plan a party that Randy would be proud of.