Sheila Christine Randall

Salt Lake City ‚ Sheila Christine Randall, born as Steven Randall, passed away at home on October 9, 2014 while practicing her guitar. The cause of her death is unknown at this time.

Sheila is survived by her son, Mwenda Randall, former wife, Kagendo, her partner, Dustie Preston, and Dustie\s daughter, Devin. She also leaves behind her father, David Randall, and his wife, Jan; her sisters, Karen (Chris) Chrysostom, Kim (Don) Trop, Julie (Jeff) Wrigley, brother Brian (Stacey) Randall, and most of all, her beloved four-legged companion, Kanubi. She was greatly loved by her nieces and nephews: Tai, Sophia, Raine, and John Chrysostom; by Jeremy, Devon, and Sam Trop; by Anna Wrigley and by Charlie and Kya Randall; by stepbrother and stepsisters Scott, Julie, and Lisa. Sheila was preceded in death by her mother, Olga Randall.

Sheila began life as a boy named Steven. Steven was born with a cleft lip and several other birth defects that made life difficult for him. As a baby, he endured multiple surgeries to correct the cleft. Despite these difficulties, Steven outpaced everybody\s expectations as he learned to walk, and then to run all over the neighborhood. He grew into a bright, active boy who was involved in Boy Scouts, Civil Air Patrol and many other organizations. He graduated from Cottonwood High School in 1983 and went on to attend the University of Utah where he received a degree in chemistry. Steven was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and maintained several lifelong friendships with the brothers of Lambda Chi.

After graduating from college, Steven served for two years with the Peace Corps in Kenya. While in Kenya, Steven met his future wife, Kagendo and her son Mwenda whom Steven adopted. Upon his return to the United States, Steven earned a degree in pharmacology.He worked as a pharmacist for many years. As a pharmacist, Steven was a dedicated advocate for patient education. On many occasions, he spent extra time with patients ensuring that they understood their medications, helping them to be aware of potential side effects and to avoid negative drug interactions.

Steven struggled all his life with the feeling that he should have been a woman. Eventually he reached a point at which he could not live with himself unless he gave voice to the woman he knew himself to be. Over time, and with some difficulty, Sheila emerged from the person we had known as Steven. The transition was not always easy, but eventually friends and family came to recognize that it was essential for Sheila to give outward expression to her truest self.

Several years after her transition, Sheila met her best friend and life partner, Dustie Preston. Sheila was devoted to Dustie, her partner of nine and a half years, and to Dustie\s daughter, Devin, spending many happy times camping and traveling in Dustie\s RV with Devin and Kanubi.

Tragedy struck as Sheila suffered a traumatic brain injury, ending her career as a pharmacist. As always, Sheila outpaced everyone\s expectations as she drove her own rehabilitation by studying math, music theory and guitar. She was thrilled with the challenge of learning to play and spent many happy hours practicing.

Sheila was devoted to her family and friends. She adored her son Mwenda, rejoicing in his accomplishments and treasuring every moment she had with him. She loved her brother Brian, her sisters, and all her nieces and nephews. She was generous to a fault at Christmas and birthdays and was always ready to help her family through difficulties. She was a passionate supporter of her nephews as they joined the military, proudly attending each of their swearing-in services as they began their military careers. Her love and support is irreplaceable and leaves a hole that will never be filled.

Sheila was a passionate advocate for the LGBT community, participating in several gay rights organizations including Equality Utah, Transgender Education Advocates of Utah, and the Gay Pride parade. She was a dedicated hiker who loved the outdoors and especially loved hiking in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

No account of Sheila\s life would be complete without mentioning her deep love for science fiction and for the Star Trek series in particular. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry\s vision of an optimistic future for humanity was a philosophy that informed everything in Sheila\s life. Utmost was the Vulcan philosophy summed up as IDIC, Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. There is only one way to say goodbye to Sheila and that is to send her to her rightful place on the bridge of the starship Enterprise, eager to embark on her many voyages to come.

"Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Her ongoing mission, to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life forms, and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man, where no one, has gone before."

Friends and family are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 2:oopm at the Larkin Mortuary Riverton, 3688 W. 12600 S., Riverton. A reception will follow at the mortuary.