Earli May left this earth on Thursday, October 10, 2013 in Sandy, Utah to sing with the Big Band in Heaven. She was born April 16, 1931 in Libertyville, Iowa to Doris May James and Earl Leo Burnett. She lived the first part of her life singing in church with her beloved sisters, Dorothy and Alice. She loved singing in the choir and cheerleading in high school in Colorado. She married Robert Roy Gabriel on September 11, 1949. They had three children, Patricia Diane, Marcia Ann, and Jeffrey Scott. They later divorced. She married Quentin Randall and helped raise his four children—Steve, Darrell, Kathy, and Linda. She worked in the banking industry, managed rental properties, and assisted Quentin in his appraisal business. She was a savvy business woman. Earline was proud to have graduated with her AA
degree from Ventura College. She was able to fulfill her dreams of traveling all over the world with Quentin. She was not afraid of anything—from riding camels and elephants to hanging upside down to kiss the blarney stone. This started her love affair of collecting art, learning history of all cultures, and a vast collection of world artifacts. Her home was like going to a museum. Earli May always wanted to be an actress and singer from the times she was a little girl. She acted in over 18 musicals. Being the star
as Nellie in \"South Pacific\" with Cabrillo Music Theater, of which she was a founding member of the board of directors, was one of her favorites. She sang with big bands and had her own band, \"The Swing Shift\", with her husband, Quentin. Many people enjoyed the roller skating, horn-honking, Dolly Parton look-a-like\s antics of the \"Wild and Crazy Lady\"—a singing telegram business founded by Earline. She was also able to sing in Europe in beautiful and historic cathedrals with the Gold Coast Chorale. She lived in Ventura and Santa Paula for over 56 years and California was her love. Earli May was truly theWild and Crazy Lady with the bright red hair.
Earline is survived by her sisters, Dorothy (Gordy) Chester, Alice (Gary) Winsell, her children, Patricia Diane (Lynn) Marlor, Marcia Ann Gabriel Robb, Jeffrey Scott Gabriel, Steve Randall, Kathy Randall, Linda (Paul) Ometer, 9 grandchildren, Tami, Brandon, Alisha, Amanda, Bryce, Gabe, Cody, Max, and Wyatt, 7 step-grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, nieces, Bobbi (Nils) Johnson, Linda (Jim) Britsch, (late, Peggy Allen Johnson), nephews, Stanley Allen, (late, Dan Allen)
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home 3150 Loma Vista Road Ventura, California with visitation from 9:15-10:45 a.m. Interment, Ivy LawnMemorial Park.
A special thank you to Alta Ridge Assisted Living and Millcreek Home and Health for their kindness andconcern.
