Randy M. Looper

Randy M. Looper, 69, of Gainesville passed away Saturday September 10, 2016 following a sudden illness at a place he dearly loved, the gate at Sanford Stadium in Athens with ninety three thousand of his closest friends nearby.

Born September 4, 1947, Randy grew up Dawson County after which he lived in Atlanta and in Washington, D.C. for 14 years before moving to Gainesville.  He graduated from Dawson County High School in 1965 and earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Georgia.  He did his student teaching at Tucker High School after which he taught at Sequoyah High School in Doraville.  Following his teaching career he worked a period of time at General Motors and was then employed with Vada Sporting Goods in Doraville.  For the past 30 years Randy worked as a flight attendant for United Airlines and for the past 15 years he specialized in international flights.  While in Washington he lobbied for the Association of Flight Attendants for issues concerning airline safety.  In the 1970’s Randy was instrumental in the formation of the Dawson County Jaycees where he helped develop the Fall Festival, which is now the Moonshine Festival, and the Empty Stocking Fund, which is now Kare for Kids.  He loved politics and managed several campaigns which included campaigns for his father and a race for Georgia’s governor.  Randy loved animals, loved living on the lake, and was very passionate about the University of Georgia Bulldogs.  He was preceded in death by his father, Max R. Looper and a brother in law, Mark Haselton.

Surviving are his partner, Alfredo “Freddy” Debernardi, Gainesville; mother, Virginia Looper Taylor, Alpharetta; sisters and brother in law, Vicki Looper, Cumming, Pamela Haselton, Alpharetta, Melody and Jimmy Collins, Dawsonville; brother and sister in law, Kevin and Lisa Taylor, Cumming; niece, Jennifer Burt and her husband Eugene, Dawsonville; nephew, Dustin McElroy, Alpharetta; great niece and nephew, Natalie Burt and Andrew Burt.

Memorial services will be held Saturday September 17, 2016 at 5 o’clock at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel.

All his Georgia Bulldog friends and family are encouraged to wear their Georgia shirts.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 2 until 5 at the funeral home.

In lieu flowers donations may be made to Kare for Kids, P. O. Box 211, Dawsonville, GA  30534 or to the Dawson County Humane Society, 633 Martin Road, Dawsonville, GA  30534.

Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.

Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.