Gunfighters pause to honor caregiver's memory ------------------------------------------------------------- by Airman Samantha S. DeVries 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office 5/9/2007 - MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Friends and co-workers considered Susan Randall as someone who was continually giving, supportive and kind hearted. To them, she was a caregiver, mentor and friend who inspired them to become better caregivers. Always searching for new ideas and learning tools, she poured her love and knowledge into the base's child development center. On May 9, men and women across the base gathered to remember her life at a service dedicated to honoring her memory. Ms. Randall, a caregiver with the CDC, died at her off-base home April 29 after a long battle against cancer. "The loss of Susan Randall will greatly impact the daily operations of the CDC," said Kaureen Whittaker, a staff member for the CDC. "Just the absence of her daily positive interactions with caregivers and children will be felt. She was a wonderful, warm-hearted person and a great mentor." Ms. Randall worked closely with all staff members, sharing her extensive knowledge of child care, added Debra Augusto, a fellow caregiver. "Her passing was a great loss to all of us." "She always looked for the positive in any person as well as any situation," said Cynthia Chatman, a member of the CDC staff. "She always encouraged everyone to do well. She cheered everyone on." Ms. Randall worked as a caregiver at the CDC for 19 years. During her time there, she remained highly involved with the staff, including helping those working toward their child development associate credentials. She worked for the Council for Professional Recognition, served as a field mentor for the Idaho Stars program and helped college lab program students see first hand the base's accredited program. "Sue was tough, yet fair," said Laura McGuire, CDC director. "She expected a lot but knew that the rewards for the children and staff would be worth it in the end. Sue was an advocate for the children as well as the staff. She believed whole heartedly in then betterment of the early childhood field, and she educated everyone that she knew whenever and wherever she could. She saw a budding development in each and every child and wanted to care for and nurture it." Susan Randall, 61 Wednesday, May 9, 2007 Susan Randall Susan Gene Randall, 61, died April 29, 2007 at her home in Mountain Home, surrounded by her family, after a battle with leukemia. A memorial service will be held today, Wednesday, May 9, at 1 p.m. at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home. A reception for family and friends will follow the service at the Randall residence, 460 N. 7th East St., in Mountain Home. Susan was born April 20, 1946, in Tacoma, Wash., to Roy and Jymann Luppy. She graduated from high school in Tacoma and attended Olympic Junior College in Bremerton, Wash., graduating with an AA in Arts and Science. She then attended Central Washington State College in Ellensburg, Wash., graduating with a BA in Early Education. Susan married Robert Randall on March 23, 1968, and together they traveled the world with his military career. They settled in Mountain Home in 1987. Susan worked as a substitute teacher in the airbase schools and started working at the Child Development Center on the base in 1985. She worked as a caregiver, pre-school teacher, and as the Training and Curriculum Specialist from 1991 until her death. She also served on the Child Care Connections Board in Boise and worked with the Albertson's Foundation to improve Early Childhood Education in Idaho. Susan also worked as an examiner for the Council for Early Childhood Education in Washington, D.C., and as a mentor for Headstart in Elmore County. "Susan will be remembered for her love of family, the ocean, the mountains and foremost, the proper education of children," her family said with pride. For her, it was "no shortcuts, no excuses -- the children will be taught correctly with no regard to your rank or position." Susan is survived by: her husband of 39 years, Robert Randall; daughters Teresa and her husband, Brian French, and their children, all of Eagle, Michelle and her husband, Matt Sisco, and their children, all of Nampa; son Michael Randall and his children, all of Mountain Home, and her brother, Paul Luppy, of Summer, Wash.