RIP to a Dear Friend Randall Scott Covey

I am very sad about the recent news regarding the passing of a friend and also a friend to several here on TeamNetworks.Net, Randall Scott Covey. I never wanted to use this memorial Izine for any of our members but I am glad we have it so I can remember him here. 

I first met Randy on SodaHead in either late 07 or sometime early on in 08. He was one of the first people I "friended" there and was drawn to his posts for many reasons. His moniker there, Wanna Be Contrarian, fit him perfectly. 

One thing I noticed about him right away was that he didn't represent a political "side" with his posts or his comments. He was obviously an independent thinker and sought the truth no matter who may be pushed out of the shadows by exposing it. I really appreciated that about him on a site where people were shoved into one of two boxes, either left or right, for their views. He was in a sense, un-shovable. That he could infuriate either side with truth seeking was to me a sign that Randy cared more about truth than he did about how people perceived him. 

Another thing that I admired about Randy was how he dared to go where others would not tread. His complete refusal to maintain any semblance of being politically correct stood out. Sometimes his posts were challenging perceptions that were hard wired into our minds but I never thought his posts were intentionally meant to harm anyone. He seemed to want to inspire us to think outside of our boxes and look beyond the collective agreements we might have on a variety of topics. Freedom of speech was one of the first political ideas I took up for decades ago and his fight to preserve it and his appreciation for it was another thing that drew me to want to get to know him better even early on. 

Randy was a seeker. I think he always sought truth persistently and I was glad when later on it seemed his search expanded to find God and make things right with our creator. 

It didn't take long before Randy became one of the very few people I trusted on SodaHead, a site I found to be mostly full of vipers. We didn't always agree about everything but that was okay. We still listened and read and studied things together along with other friends especially when a private mail was set up for members who appeared to also be seeking a better understanding of what is really going on in this world. People came and went on that mail, but a hand full of us including Randy, stuck together there and came back together here on TeamNetworks.Net. 

I made this site with my friends in mind. Randy was already very much one of those friends. So many items I've posted here were inspired by thinking, Randy will appreciate this one. I intend to keep posting those kind of items with him in mind and I hope his influence will be long lasting in this way going forward. It makes me sad though, to realize he won't be here to read them or comment. I can only pray that Randy will be aware of them somehow and smile down on me for carrying on. 

I also give Randy credit for making me laugh on so many occasions when otherwise even a smile was hard to find. He had a great sense of humor that especially shone out when he was posting comments to the far left liberals on SodaHead and other sites I've read them on. Many times, they would become so completely flabbergasted at his commentary that they literally did not know what to do or say next.

Anyone who has engaged these types of people will know how rare that is as they are programmed to respond and have a response for nearly everything that can be thrown at them. But, they were never programmed to respond to someone like Randy who walked his own path in thinking, who stood not for any "side" of things but for exposure of truth across the lines. I recall many times just laughing out loud at the back and forth conversations going on between him and others. 

Above all, Randy made me think and seek into areas I had not ventured before and for that I am eternally grateful. I am also grateful that he came here and helped get the site started with his participation and keep it going with his posts. But most of all I am grateful for his friendship. Although we never met face to face, something I will always regret, he became over these many years someone I trusted and would have told my most well kept secrets to if it had been a subject I needed to share. That is a rare friend indeed.  

There are probably many more things I could say in remembrance of him, and maybe I will from time to time come in when I am thinking of him and post my thoughts. Right now I am coming to grips with the fact that a member of my online family has gone on before me. If it is possible that he can fight for us from Heaven, I know he will. He loved his country and his family and cared for his friends and I think of him as a great warrior for truth, justice and the American way. 

All of us are ingrained with imperfections and I am sure Randy had his own too but what he did for his country, for his God and for his loved ones that I observed online was meaningful and in my eyes covered any imperfections with the progress he made for goodness in the world. 

I am glad Randy is not suffering anymore. I miss him but will carry him and his memory in my heart and in how he changed my mind for the rest of my life. 

Rest in Peace dear friend. You earned it.