Randolph "Randy" Jerome Ney

Randy was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on the 27th of August 1937. He was the son of the late lone and Jerome Ney and grandson of Marie and Rudolph Ney, both of whom were born in Germany, and of Bertha and Dr. Irvin Sternberg.

Randy spent his early years in Fort Smith. During this time, he spent seven summers at Camp Nebagamon, in Wisconsin, where he developed many lifelong friends. After initial schooling in Fort Smith, Randy attended the Choate School in Wallingford, Connecticut, from which he graduated in 1955.

Randy matriculated to Yale, a school he loved, and graduated in 1959. Randy loved singing and after three years in the Baker's Dozen, was elected Popocatepetl of the Whiffenpoofs. He was proud to be a member of the Whiffs and of being its first Jewish member.

After a brief, but positive, experience with Goldman Sachs in New York, Randy was persuaded to join the family retail business, which had been founded in 1879, and at which time enjoyed stores in Fort Smith and Fayetteville, Arkansas, Oklahoma City, Denver, and Beaumont, Texas.

Randy spent the next thirty-six years in the family business and rose to the position of President and CEO.

In 1987, Randy was honored by the National Retail Merchants Association as the national Retailer of the Year, where he shared the dais with former President Gerald Ford. In 1997, the year before Lea and Randy moved to Houston, Randy was honored as King of the Neches River Festival in Beaumont.

Randy sold the last of his stores in 1996, after which he initiated a new career in the travel industry.

Randy opened Universal Travel in Houston in 2000, and during the next twenty-three years built a leading bespoke travel business with national recognition. Randy and Lea developed an impressive reputation and were responsible for providing lasting experiences to friends, family and clients alike. They took many of their friends on trips to all continents.

Randy's years were active. He chaired the United Way drive in Fort Smith, the St. Elizabeth Benefit in Beaumont, YPO Gold's Houston Chapter, and at various times was a board member of the First National Bank in Fort Smith, First City Bank in Beaumont, Sparks and St. Edward Hospitals in Fort Smith, St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, and the Yale Club of New York City, of which he was a member. Randy served as an advisory board member for Abercrombie & Kent and St. Regis. He also proudly co-chaired the Yale Reunion of 2019.

He also was a member of River Oaks Country Club.

Randy is survived by the love of his life, Lea, with whom he shared the happiest years of his life. He credited Lea with his good health and the long life he led.

Randy is also survived by his brother, Jerome Marshall Ney, Jr. (Jerry); two sons and their families, Marshall Smith Ney of Rogers, Arkansas, and wife Shannon, his grandson and granddaughter, Dr. Smith Ney and wife Tori and (future Dr.) Isabella Ney, Shannon's two sons, Parker and Connor; and his son Jonathan Marshall Ney of Dallas, Texas, and wife Jessica and his grandson, Finnegan Randolph Ney. Randy also is survived by Lea's three sons and their families Craig Kinsel and wife Keely, his granddaughter Caroline White and husband Travis, and their children Case and Sophie, and granddaughter Catherine Kinsel; Todd Kinsel and wife Natalie, his granddaughter Cavender and his grandsons Oliver and Waylon; and Scott Kinsel and Angie, his granddaughter Penelope and his grandsons Max and Luke. Randy was predeceased by his son Randolph Carney Ney, who died in 2011, and his daughter Jennifer DiAnn Ney, who died in 2013.

Service arrangements are pending and will be announced. In the interim you may opt to receive updated information by selecting the "Get Updates" icon below.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be sent to a charity of one's choice.

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Randy was a much needed, valued and loved member of our family. People like to use the term “Old School” when describing someone who does things the old-fashioned ways. Randy was not necessarily old school, but he was about doing things the right and proper way regardless if it was old fashioned or cutting edge. Randy was the ultimate gentleman through and through. Like most everyone at this Celebration of Life, we loved traveling the world with Randy. His knowledge, experience, attention to detail and never-ending zest for life made the trips with him on a different level than others.

However, the best memories of Randy that we will always cherish were the passionate conversations, debates and discussions we had with him on these amazing trips, at a random dinner somewhere or at our family gatherings. Randy always had an opinion on pretty much everything but was eager and open to discuss different issues and ideas and listen to what others had to say.

We will miss Randy dearly. We loved every second we spent with him for 30 years. The happiness that Randy brought our Lea was a gift that he gave our family that will never be forgotten.

With all our love and appreciation.

The Craig Kinsel Family

Keely, Craig, Caroline, Catherine, Travis, Case, Sophie