F. Randall Gose, 93, passed away at his home in Silver City, NM on February 14, 2017, surrounded by his family.
He was born October 15, 1923 at home in north Hurley, NM to Thomas A. Gose & Elsie Lee (Sanderson) Gose.
His father ran a successful laundry service in which Randall helped from a young age.
He attended school in Hurley from elementary through high school, playing football and basketball. He also attended NMMI for a year and a half, leaving short of graduation to join the Navy during WWII, serving on a ship in the Asiatic Pacific area.
Ever the entrepreneur, he learned to cut hair and earned $.25 per haircut while in the Navy.
In 1946, he took over management of American Laun-Dry Cleaning Co. On one of his laundry deliveries to Western Teacher's College (WNMU) he met a pretty coed, Mary Ellen Bentley, whom he married June 21, 1948 and raised 4 children.
Randall was an active civic leader in Silver City, where he was a councilman (1972-74) and mayor (1974-75), on the Board of Directors for Sunwest Bank for 26 years, as well as past president of NM Drycleaners Association, Silver City Toastmasters, Silver Golf Club and past Exalted Ruler Elks Lodge #413.
Over the years he continued to expand American Laundry to include coin-operated laundries, dry-cleaning services and carwashes in Silver City and Bayard.
He opened Oakridge Homes in 1978, which was involved in general contracting, modular and manufactured home sales.
He was a successful entrepreneur and generous to a fault. He enjoyed including his family in his business adventures.
Randall was an avid golfer and was instrumental in the establishment of the Silver City Golf Course. He competed in many local tournaments and later traveled with the Senior's Golf Association.
His strength, generosity, integrity and commitment to his family are his legacy.
He is survived by his wife of 68 -+ years Mary Ellen Gose; four children, Grant Gose (Lora), Charles Gose (Cheryl), Leanne Ormand (Matt) and Ranelle Gose; twelve grandchildren, Jonathan Ormand (Michelle), Ashlee Inman, Destree Houston (Corey),Jerad Gose (Lauren), Rebekah Ormand, Auhdra Houston (Kyle), Magan Romig (Derek), James Gose, Britanny DeMent (Matt), Philip Ormand, April Aguilar (Jose), and Kohdy Pierce; twelve great-grandchildren, Shyrea, Matthew, Luke, Patrick, CJ, Reid, Paige, Charlotte, Kehlyn, Rowdy, Buster, and Dayle.
He was preceded in death by his stillborn daughter, his parents, brothers, William, Seburn, and Tom; sisters, Mary Bandoni, Lois Lebaron, Elsie Stokes, and Evelyn Owens.
A Memorial Service will be celebrated on Saturday, February 18 at 11 am at First United Methodist Church with Pastors Michael Brunk and Joseph Gros officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial be made to the American Diabetes Association and First United Methodist Church.
Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory.
Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trusted care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777.
To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.