Randy E. Temple

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, July 15, 2015

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March 14, 1955 – July 12, 2015

VIDALIA — Services for Randy E. Temple, 60, who died Sunday, July 12, 2015, at Our Lady Of The Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, will be 11 a.m. today at First Baptist Church of Vidalia with the Rev. Sig Kunz officiating.

Burial will follow the service under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Mr. Temple was born March 14, 1955, in Rayville, La., the son of J.B. and Lois Temple.

Randy was a very humble man with a number of talents who always put others first. He had a deep abiding faith in his Savior and Lord, along with a love for his family and community.

Randy had the unique ability to work with his hands. He was skilled at repairing and creating anything mechanical, automotive or wood work. He often fixed and built things in his workshop. He loved fishing and hunting.

Randy never missed a game during the years that his children played sports in Dixie Youth baseball and the Vidalia Vikings.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Natchez where he served as church president. His family are also members of the church’s congregation.

Randy represented Ward 3-A on the Concordia Parish Police Jury and was presently serving on the finance committee. His first term was from 1983 to 1986, and was re-elected in 2000 until the present, making four consecutive terms.

Randy had been sales tax collector for Concordia Parish Department of Revenue for more than 12 years.

As stated by Jon Betts in the Monday edition of the Natchez Democrat, “He was a true public servant in the fact that he felt people elected him to do a job and he was going to do that job to the best of his ability. He had his opinion on how that should be done as far as doing the right thing. He was a man of integrity. If he gave his word to you, you could count on it. That’s a lost art these days, being able to give your word, or accept someone’s word and know that he was going to keep it.”

Randy was preceded in death by his father.

Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Debbie Temple; one daughter, Meagan Hendricks and husband, Josh, of Bossier City, La.; two sons, Jordan Temple and wife, Danielle, and Josh Temple and fiancée, Abbie LaSyone, all of Pineville, La.; two grandchildren, Ryleigh and Parker Temple; his mother of Vidalia; one sister, Brenda Phillips of Beaumont, Texas; one brother, John Temple and wife, Linda, of Tupelo; two sisters-in-law, Darla Johnson and husband, Jackie, of Vidalia and Dawn Smith of Monroe, La.; his mother-in-law, Cora Pennington and husband, James, of Natchez; and a number of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends who will miss him dearly.

Pallbearers will be Jon Betts, Ricky Knapp, Jackie Johnston, Doug Temple, Danny Sims and Jerry Clark.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Concordia Parish Police Jury and the members of the Louisiana Association of Tax Administrators and Tom O’Neal.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with Thee.

Thou changest not: Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Online condolences may be sent to youngsfh.com.