Randall Clark Hackler, Artist, Musician, and Adventurer, passed away in his family’s home in Norman, OK on November 24, 2017. He was holding his daughter’s hand and looking lovingly into her eyes as he passed peacefully into the next world. Randy had been through a long private struggle with liver cancer. His father Maurice Hackler died two days before his son, they walked together into the afterlife.
Randy was born April 3rd, 1954 in Wichita, Kansas to Maurice and Robbie Hackler. The family moved to Norman in 1959. Randy drummed to his own beat. In 1965 he and his friends started a band, “The Uncalled Four”. He was the classic all-American boy, head of the student council and a football player. 

He graduated from Norman High in 1972. Randy attended Oklahoma University and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1983 and his Masters of Fine Arts in Printmaking in 1991. During college years Randy played drums in a band called “Moonrod Waltz”, and still jammed with his friends earlier this year.  

Randy left Norman during the summers to travel. He woke up in his MGA convertible beneath the Grand Tetons in Jackson, WY one morning in 1974 He had found his place. For the rest of his life he would travel between the two very opposite worlds. He loved fly fishing in Jackson Hole and the Wind River Range south of Jackson. He backpacked into the Winds every year except two between 1982 and 2017, many times by himself and sometimes with friends or his daughter. He took great care of everything he owned and used the same camp stove for every single trip.

Randy married Debby West on January 25th, 1987. Their daughter, Coral Elise was born on June 10th 1987. Every year on her birthday he would tell his beloved daughter that it was the anniversary of the best day of his life. 

Randy was a man of many talents, a free spirit who held many jobs over the years. In Norman, he was a bartender and cook at Pinks, baker at Breadworks and La Baguette, baker and bartender at Othello’s. In Jackson, he worked on and off as a baker at Bru’s Buns and Breads, what later became The Bunnery, and at Dornan’s for many years. During the last few summers he worked for The Lift. He sat in and played drums with many bands in Jackson, including Lucy.

Randy was a true friend to many people. Once he decided he loved you, he became a lifelong friend. He was always good at staying in touch and he made a point to visit his friends across the country. He had many “best” friends and “brothers from other mothers”. He had an incredible memory for names and dates, amazing his friends with descriptive details.  He was always a welcome sight.

Predeceased by his mother, Robbie, and his father Maurice. He is survived by his daughter Coral Amayi and husband James-Garrett of Cochise, Arizona; sister Trudy Sickles and husband Don of Norman, Oklahoma; his niece Anne Maguire and husband Reed of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and his nephew Garrett Sickles of Denver, Colorado; along with several cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests uploading a short story or video of your favorite memories of Randy to: randyhackler.com.

A celebration of life service with an art gallery reception will be held at the Shevaun Williams Photography studio at 221 E Main St, Norman, at 7-11- pm the evening of December 15th 2017.

In late summer 2018, a service will be held in Jackson. Afterwards his ashes will be trekked on a three-day hike so that he may forever rest in his favorite place of solitude, Lake Sequa, in the Wind River Range. 

Celebrate Randy’s Life
August 16, 2018
4-7pm+
at the Lyft in Jackson, Wyoming

Wyoming Celebration
JULY 16, 4-7pm+ at the Lyft. https://liftjacksonhole.com/
Come celebrate the life of Randy at the last place he worked. He considered the staff of the LIft like family. We will have pizza, appetizers, and a cash bar.  Please spread the word. 

Then his ashes will be trekked on a three-day hike to his favorite place, Lake Sequa, in the Wind River Range.

RSVP helpful but not required..
Please subscribe to Rany’s List to let us know if you can come to Jackson for the celebration.

Norman, Ok
Memorial Celebration and Art Show
A celebration of life service and an art gallery reception was held at the Shevaun Williams Photography studio in Norman, on December 15^th 2017

Fly on Little Wing

My father, Randy Hackler passed away late last night. 4-03-1954 to 11-24-2017.

About and hour before, I told him about our Thanksgiving dinner with his sister, her husband, my mom and my cousin. I told him his father had left this earth and could not come and had dinner with his wife.

I felt Hack’s presence with us. My dad who had been unresponsive for about 24 hours shed a few tears and used his vocal cords to cry out when he breathed out. 

We watched The Pulse Live by Pink Floyd, sang along to some Beatles. I read him “The Egg” by Andy Weil. We listened to The Point by Harry Nilson and I sang along. We were listening to Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach.

I was lying in his bed with my head at his feet. I was holding his hand and he took it into a hard grip and used all the last of his strength to pull me close. I looked into his eyes, at first I saw fear, then a song of sorrow, and then a release into love. I looked deep onto his eyes, the eyes he gave me and I saw him and he saw me connecting between our souls. He took his last breath and then everything stopped. He walked with his father into the afterlife.

I am so grateful to be here with my family in a home that was such a comforting rock for me through my whole life. Dad you will be with me always. You loved me more than anyone could ask. Thank you for teaching me to be a shining being of light and kindness. Thank for teaching me the importance of lifelong friendship!

You can also contact Coral and Debby, or send us a story and photos.