Mr. Randy Wayne Shafer, 68, of Niles, Michigan, passed away at Eskenazi Health Hospital in Indianapolis on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., following an accident at home.

Randy was born in Lansing, Michigan, on September 4, 1957, to the late Monie Shafer and Norma (Watson) Shafer Bishop.

Surviving Randy is his beloved daughter, Rhonda S. (Roger) May of Elkhart; siblings Michael (Kathleen) Shafer of Raleigh, North Carolina, Scott (Patricia) Shafer of Elkhart, Gery Perhne of Cass County, Michigan; Monie (Linda) Shafer and Steve Shafer, both of Lake City, Michigan, Rodger (Rhonda) Shafer of Forsyth, Missouri; Cheryl A. Terry and Lynn Jones, both of Elkhart, Julie (Matthew) Wirtz of Tennessee, and Lora (Jim) Tapia of Casa Grande, Arizona; grandchildren Ashley Shafer, Dakota Grant, and Caleb Shafer; and great-grandchildren Abel and Bellamy Shafer. He is also survived by his friend and significant other, Connie Troup, who resides at home, as well as a huge host of loving extended family, friends, acquaintances, in-laws, outlaws, and probably a few shady friends who owed him money. A brother, Jeff Shafer, precedes Randy in passing.

In accordance with Randy’s wishes, a family directed Remembrance of Life service has been planned for Saturday, August 29, 2026 at the family hog roast location, 21692 State Line Road, Bristol, IN 46507, at 1:00 pm . Billings Funeral Home and Cremation Services are assisting the family with Randy’s arrangements.

If Randy’s life could be summed up by a song, it might have been something along the lines of Johnny Cash’s 1992 rendition of I’ve Been Everywhere. Randy certainly seemed to take that title as a personal challenge. Over the years, he lived in more places than most people could keep track of, and if there was a road leading somewhere, there was a pretty good chance Randy had been down it.

He definitely got around—and he rarely went anywhere without making a few friends along the way.

Randy was not a loner. In fact, being around people seemed to be one of his favorite pastimes. He enjoyed getting out, visiting with friends, swapping stories, and seeing what kind of trouble—or at least what kind of conversation—might be waiting around the corner. He could often be found visiting one of the local establishments, where he enjoyed good company, a familiar face, and undoubtedly a story or two that became just a little more interesting each time it was told.

Randy had a way about him. He could come across as gruff, and he was certainly not known for sugarcoating his opinions. But underneath that rough exterior was a man with a good heart, a generous nature, and a genuine willingness to help someone who needed it. He might give you a hard time while helping you, but you could generally count on him to show up when it mattered.

And Randy was stubborn.

Not ordinary stubborn, either. Randy possessed the kind of stubbornness that could probably have been registered as a renewable energy source. Once he had made up his mind, changing it was generally considered a project best left to people with considerably more time on their hands. He knew what he thought, he knew what he liked, and he was perfectly comfortable letting everybody else know it, too.

That stubborn streak, however, was part of what made Randy, Randy. He was independent, determined, and unapologetically himself. He did things his way, at his own pace, and with very little concern for whether anyone else thought he ought to do them differently. You could argue with Randy, but there was a pretty good chance you weren't going to win. And if, by some miracle, you did win, Randy might simply decide that the argument wasn't over yet.

He had a wonderfully homespun sense of humor and a quick wit that could sneak up on you. Randy enjoyed teasing, telling stories, giving people a hard time, and being given one right back. He had the rare ability to make a person laugh without necessarily intending to—and sometimes while maintaining a perfectly straight face.

Randy loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, sitting around a fire pit swapping stories with friends, mowing the grass, and doing yardwork. He was the sort of man who could look at an overgrown yard and see a perfectly good reason to spend the afternoon making it look better. He also enjoyed car shows, watching NASCAR races, and keeping an eye on his favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt, No. 3. There was more than a passing resemblance between Randy and the legendary driver, although Randy would probably have insisted the resemblance went the other direction.

When he wasn't outside, Randy could often be found watching The Dukes of Hazzard, old westerns, or whatever else happened to catch his interest on television. He appreciated things that were straightforward, familiar, and didn't require a lot of explaining—much like Randy himself.

He also enjoyed helping others whenever he could. Randy might have grumbled about it, cracked a joke, or told you exactly what you were doing wrong, but more often than not, he was there to lend a hand. That was part of his charm. He didn't always say things the polished way, but his actions frequently said plenty.

Randy lived life on his own terms. He wasn't afraid to be himself, and there was never much danger of anyone confusing him with somebody else. He had an opinion on just about everything and was never particularly timid about sharing it. You always knew where Randy stood—and if you didn't, just ask him. He'd be happy to tell you.

He leaves behind a family who loved him, friends who will miss his stories and his humor, and more than a few people who will probably catch themselves looking around for Randy the next time they have a good story to tell.

Randy was one of a kind: gruff but kind, stubborn but dependable, opinionated but charming, and always unmistakably Randy. He leaves behind memories that are sure to bring both a smile and a shake of the head—the very combination that seems most fitting for a man who never intended to live a quiet or ordinary life.

And knowing Randy, if there is a place up there with a good campfire, an old car to talk about, a NASCAR race on television, and a few folks willing to argue with him, he has probably already found it.

He may even have already told them how they're doing it wrong.