Rande Marshall McCrary, age 67 of Chillicothe and formerly of Breckenridge, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at North Care Hospice House, North Kansas City, Missouri. He was born the son of Francis Marshall and Margaret M. (Adams) McCrary on February 6, 1959 in Chillicothe, Missouri.

Rande was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Cinda. Rande is survived by his niece, Mary Queen; nephew Marshall House; cousins, Pam Sweiven, Ann Anderson, Susan Marrali, Jimmy Logston, Timmy Logston, Dave Logston, and their families.

Randy leaves behind a legacy of love, survived not only by his natural family but his brothers & sisters nationwide in the Emergency Medical Services. We are especially appreciative to Andy and Debbie Vaughn who began as co-workers and transitioned to being his caregivers until the end.

Rande’s hobbies were anything to do with EMS, road trips to Branson and long road trips to any and all EMS events.

Rande began his career in the 1970’s as an orderly at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe, MO, while also serving as a volunteer firefighter for the Breckenridge Fire Dept. He became an EMT, then Paramedic. His first EMS job was in Trenton, under the direction of Larry Croy, a long time EMS instructor at North Central Missouri College, when the Trenton ambulance was based at Wright Memorial Hospital. The ambulance service became Grundy County Community Ambulance, and then Grundy County Ambulance in 1982. After many years for Grundy County, he worked as a Paramedic for Atchison-Holt Ambulance, Maryville Ambulance, and Northland Regional Ambulance District in Platte County. In 1988, Rande took a position as Training Officer for the Missouri Bureau of EMS, where he served for many years working to improve EMT and Paramedic programs in North Missouri, and administering the EMT and Paramedic state board exams.

When he was forced to medically retire from direct patient care, he decided to serve EMS in new ways, first as an EMS Dispatcher for Carrollton EMS, and in 2009 he joined the NEMSMS Board of Directors. He was a constant at the Weekend of Honor from that point forward and took great pride in greeting and comforting those grieving loved ones or EMS colleagues.

In his early years on the National EMS Memorial Service (NEMSMS) board before the move to a web-based program, he was the organizer of all printed materials—schedules, maps, programs—and mulled over ever last detail. He could always be found at the registration desk “just in case anyone needed anything.”

He was easily recognizable for his wide grin and the fact that he carried a large walking stick for balance. Several years ago, when he became wheelchair-bound, he continued serving at the Weekend of Honor in a motorized scooter. In fact, he never missed a single National EMS Memorial Service since joining the board, at times even defying physician advice to stay home and rest for his own health. He’d state, “I want to be there for the families.” He brought deep passion especially for the families of our fallen.

Rande was recently recognized by the National EMS Association for over 40 years of service in EMS. Rande was a charter member of the Missouri Emergency Medical Service Association (MEMSA), and served on the board for 34 years. He also served on the Missouri EMS Funeral Response Team, as well as on their board of directors.

Rande was known and admired nationwide by many in the EMS profession.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Breckenridge School, 400 W. Colfax St. Breckenridge, Missouri on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Bro. David Lomax, NRP, will officiate. A visitation will be held at the school prior to the service from 1:30 until service time at 3:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Breckenridge, Missouri.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rande McCrary Memorial Fund and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com .



Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.