Gilman City, MO: Randall “Randy” Keith DeWitt was born on Christmas Day in 1944 and left us on August 29, 2026, at home, surrounded by the family who loved him dearly. Being born on Christmas suited Randy well—he had a way of becoming the gift you did not always know you needed, usually wrapped in humor, stubbornness, hard work, and a good story.
Randy spent the last few years battling cancer, and he did it the way he did most things: with courage, grit, and deep love for his family. He fought hard to give everyone more time with him, which says a lot about the kind of man he was.
Randy was raised just outside Gilman City, Missouri, in a farmhouse where he and his brother, Roger DeWitt, played the way country boys tend to play: outside, unsupervised enough to be interesting, and just dangerous enough to make the stories last a lifetime. Their big sister Linda DeWitt Favor tried to stay out of the dust.
One of those stories involved Randy being run over by a tractor, which landed him in the hospital with a suspended leg in traction for weeks. Family reports suggest he may have become just a little spoiled during recovery—though Randy likely would have considered simply being properly cared for.
At 16 years old, Randy went to the Home Exchange Bank of Jamesport, Missouri and took out a loan to buy a brand-new Buick convertible. He then did what any self-respecting teenager with a convertible would do: cruised the Bethany square, enjoying every minute of it.
Randy developed a love for carpentry and tools at a young age while helping his dad build homes and who later owned the DeWitt Hardware in Gilman City. Those skills stayed with him throughout his life and reflected one of his best qualities: he knew how to build things that lasted.
He later went to work for General Motors and married his first wife, Sue Foster of Bethany, Missouri. They had two children and made their home in Kansas City, Missouri, where Randy enjoyed hunting, listening to country music, and watching the races at I-70 Speedway.
In 1974, Randy moved back to Gilman City with his new wife, Patricia “Patti” DeWitt of Greensboro, North Carolina, and her six children. Together, they built a life full of family, faith, work, laughter, television sports, and the kind of ordinary days that become extraordinary when you look back on them.
Randy proudly managed the Gilman City Masonic Cemetery for 40 years. He took pride in that responsibility and served his community with steadiness, care, and quiet commitment.
He was also active in the Masonic order and will be remembered as a true gentleman by those who knew him.
Randy was a member of First Baptist Church of Gilman City for 50 years and deeply valued the fellowship and communion that church life provided.
He was an avid golfer who achieved nine holes-in-1 throughout his years of playing the sport, which is either proof of great skill, divine intervention, or Randy’s ability to keep playing until the odds finally gave in. He had a regular group of golfing buddies who met several times a week, and he once had a bumper sticker that said, “I really, really, really, really love golf.” No one questioned its accuracy.
When he was not watching golf, Randy was cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs or the Royals. He and Patti rarely missed a game on TV, and there is comfort in imagining him still keeping an eye on the score.
For the last six years of his life, Randy and Patti lived at his daughter’s home in Columbia, Missouri, where many family members had also relocated. He was surrounded by family often, which is exactly where he belonged.
Randy’s legacy lives on in the family he loved, the stories he left behind, the work he took pride in, the faith and friendships that shaped him, and the laughter that will continue every time someone remembers the tractor, the convertible, the golf sticker, or one of the many Randy moments that could never quite be duplicated.
Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Dorine DeWitt of Gilman City, MO; sister, Linda Favor and husband Bill of Albany, MO; son, John Girratono of Fort Wayne, IN; grandson, Travis Girratono of Albany, MO; and granddaughter baby, Katie Jo Girratono. He is survived by his wife, Patti DeWitt of the home; brother, Roger DeWitt and wife Bonnie of Saskatoon, SK, Canada; children, Coree and Kenny Francis of Lee’s Summit, MO, Tony Girratono of Branson, MO, Mike and Lisa Girratono of Albany, MO, Sherri Lindsey of Columbia, MO, Tony DeWitt of Laurie, MO, Carmen (DeWitt) and Stan Larison of Clearwater, FL, and Fred Lindsey of Columbia, MO; grandchildren, Keith and Sarah Francis of Ashland, MO, Steven and Sarah Francis of Drexal, MO, Tyler Francis of Kansas City, MO, Scott Francis of Kansas City, MO, Melissa Girratono of Independence, MO, Bobby Girratono of Independence, MO, Rachel Girratono of Chillicothe, MO, Jennifer Girratono of Chillicothe, MO, Gavin Girratono of Orlando, FL, Amanda and Glenn Hamilton of Albany, MO, Shelby Roberts of Columbia, MO, Cody Winkler of Saint Petersburg, FL, Nick and Kala Pierce of Peoria, IL, Sawyer DeWitt of Columbia, MO, Caleb and Madeline DeWitt of Pleasant Hill, MO, Haley DeWitt of Lee’s Summit, MO, Emily and Chris Taylor of Kansas City, MO, Melissa and Trey Bibb of Clearwater, FL, Dalton Lindsey of Columbia, MO, and Sydney Lindsey of Columbia, MO; 27 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at Roberson Funeral Home, 1107 S. 25th St., Bethany, MO 64424. A memorial graveside service will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at the Masonic Cemetery in Gilman City, MO. Memorials and contributions are suggested to the Masonic Cemetery in Gilman City, MO. Online condolences can be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.
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