Dr. Randy Lea, age 63, of Ava, Mo., and formerly of the New Orleans area, died Wednesday, January 26th. He is survived by his three children, Claire Elizabeth Lea and husband Michael Gemkow and granddaughter, Aspen, of Columbia, Mo., Paul Christopher Lea, of Nashville, Tenn., and Elaine Catherine Lea, of Lake Charles, La. Survivors also include his partner, Vicki Buffington, of Rogersville, Mo.; brother, Edward Lea and wife Kathy, of Springfield, La.; and sister, Sandra Moise and husband Greg, of Houma, La.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dortha Luann (Shortt) Lea; his parents, Otis Robert Lea and Mary Ethel (Schmidt) Lea; a brother, Robert Wayne Lea.
Randy grew up in Metarie, Louisiana and was a graduate of LSU Medical School. His training was in Internal Medicine. He became a career emergency physician, practicing in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Springfield, and Branson, Mo., among other places. His compassion for healing extended beyond his fellow human beings. He was a lover of all living creatures, especially his beloved dogs and cats. Many of them he took in to give them a chance at survival.
Randy was an avid outdoorsman and cyclist who completed the MS-150 Bicycle race eight times. He will be remembered by all those who knew him as an animated teller of stories and jokes; he could always find a way to make everyone laugh.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 5th, in Greenlawn Funeral Home East in Springfield, Mo., at 11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The Boy Scouts of America, Hospice Compassus of Springfield, Mo., or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.