An International House of Chaos
Marcia J. Eads
August 20, 1938 - June 29, 2007
We all miss you very much!
On June 29, 2007, Marica joined the Lord after a 2 year battle with lung cancer. It is with great sorrow that we all lose one of the most caring people to ever have lived. But we are comforted in knowing she is no longer in pain and is in a better place.
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Obituary -
EADS, Marcia J. (nee Morgan), loving wife of J. Robert Eads. Devoted mother of Todd, Bari, and Darren Courts, Robert Eads, Patricia Stamper, Kenneth Eads, Chris Eads, and Floyd Walker. Sister of Donna Wright, and Lee Morgan.
Grandmother of 12. Also survived by many other family and friends. Marcia went to be with the Lord on Friday, June 29th 2007 at the age of 68. Visitation Monday 5-8 PM at Mt. Moriah United Methodist Church in Withamsville. Services 10 AM Tuesday also at the church. Interment at Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Memorials to the American Cancer Society.
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M. Gene Courts
July 21, 1935 - June 12, 2015
Gene Courts Harmony's Angels Color Tribute
Gene Courts Life Celebration - large Trifold
Gene Courts Life Celebration of Life Service
Gene Father's Day card from Bari
Gene Thank You Card from Cara to Joyce
Gene Thank You card From Family of Gene Courts
Gene UC Bearcats Ticket for Celebration of Life of Gene Courts
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Robert Eads
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1937-2016
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Mildred Courts
1909 - 2000
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It is unfortunate that Mildred Courts (Gene and Rita's mother) passed away early on June 26th, 2000. She was 90 years old and blessed many of us with her long and healthy life. She will be greatly missed.
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Picture is Mildred, Matt, Brady, Britney, Ashley, Cara, Emma, Jordon
Tribute from AIC show in 2020
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This great singer and great man, member of the 1995 International Champion quartet Marquis, passed away tragically at 7:41pm August 3, 1997 from a sudden staph infection.
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There was an outpouring of email messages with memories of this fine man on the Harmonet. Below are some of these posts, along with the posts during his brief time in the hospital.
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From: "Coates, Jim"
Subject: FW: Randy Chisholm - the loss of a great friend
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 1997 11:48:23 -0400
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Passing this on at Paul's request.
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Jim Coates
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>From: Gilman, Paul[SMTP:Gilman@scripps.com]
>Sent: Monday, August 04, 1997 10:25 AM
Dear friends of Randy, I am sure this tragic news has traveled to the far corners already, but our great friend passed away last night at 7:41p.m.
Sunday started bad for Randy, a lung collapsed, blood pressure dropped, and heart stopped briefly mid-morning. It seemed like the start of a miracle that his doctor, who should have been off that day, happened by his door at the same moment all this occurred. He was quickly stabilized but the doctor provided little hope short of a miracle. Around 7 p.m. the nurses informed the family that things were in bad shape. Randy put a great fight but could never turn the corner to recover from the grips of this infection. I just don't understand.
I do not have the details for the services yet, but as soon as known I will post.
While this Internet and e-mail stuff was great for the speed and volume (over 200 messages last week) at which we could pass the support and encouragement of so many people on to Randy and his family, the impersonal side of it doesn't quite do justice to the immensity of the loss of such a great person.
I am the luckiest man in the world to have been able to spend an incredible four years on this journey with Randy.
With love from Marquis and the Chisholm family,
-Paul Gilman
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Date: Mon, 04 Aug 1997 16:40:49 -0700
From: L&G Chartier
Subject: Memories of a great friend.
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I met Randy last year for the first time at Harmony Pilgrimage in North Adams, MA. I had seen the video from Internationals the year before when they won and said "Now that is how I want to sound." Well on the Saturday, we were fortunate enough to spend an hour and 45 minutes with Randy. We laughed and joked and talked about all of us being Canadians(eh?). We even got some work done. We worked 45 minutes on getting one song right. Now I sing it as if Randy is sitting in the front row, watching to see that I have taken everything he said and put it into the song. For the rest of the weekend, we sang with Marquis and just hung out, as if we had known each other forever.
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We met again at Bolton Landing that same year. Marquis showed up just in time to hear our quartet sing on stage and then to hear us announced as the college champs. It was amazing. We were asked to sing on the Sunday night show and we hung out with the guys backstage. Being a cold night, I had given my jacket to my tenor, to keep her warm. When Marquis went on stage, Randy gave me his jacket, to keep me warm. He was always that way, very thoughtful.
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We corresponded with Randy throughout the year, letting him know how
we were coming along. He didn't have to write, but he did.
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When I asked Marquis to sign my CD last year, Randy took it and signed
the words that I now live by:
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"Sing with your heart, Louie"
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That is all one can do, sing with one's heart. I will sing with all of my heart, because that is where Randy is. I know that he will be watching over all of us.
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Sincerely,
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Lindsay Chartier
Lead- The Mixed Nuts
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Date: Mon, 4 Aug 97 18:50:41 UT
From: "Thomas A. Kentish"
Subject: "I will pass this way but Once.."
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I knew Randy Chisholm casually, but in February of 1995, Marquis did a big show in Chicago - the CABC show and my quartet was giving a debut performance with our new lead singer. We were excited about the chance to sing for Marquis and see if they had any comments for us.
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Randy took the time to watch a video that I had sent him and then he mailed me several pages of detailed coaching comments about my quartet's performance on the glow. All this in a time when they were the current 4th place medallists
with a show schedule busier than ever and they were obviously just starting their big push on the way to their championship in Miami Beach in July.
A time when most people/quartets wouldn't have time to reach out and do something kind for someone they barely knew.
One of his comments will linger with me, "...no matter how hard you think you've been working, no matter how good you think you've become -- you can always do more and remember being 'good enough' is NEVER 'good enough'...."
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He took the time to watch a video and write comments on how we could improve - mail it back to me and then at Miami, he saw me - remembered me and asked if I got his comments and wished us luck. How many would do that?
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For those of you who haven't seen the 2nd PBS Keep America Singing special aired last fall with Marquis....fast forward about 40 minutes into the show where they sing "I will pass this way but Once."...you can't help but be moved as I was watching it today.
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I'll share the lyrics now, as they seem most appropriate.
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I will pass this way but once, and if there's any good that I can do let me do it now, for I'll never pass this way again.
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I will see this day but once, and if there's any kindness I can show, let me show it now - for I'll never see this day again. Tomorrow may be too late my friend, to do all the good that you planned. So reach out to those who need you and lend them a helping hand.
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I will know this world but once
and if there's any love that I can give,
then let me give it now -
oh lord, please show me how
For I'll never know this world,
I'll never see this day -
I'll never pass this way again...
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Randy, thanks for the kindness you've showed me personally, for the love you've shown on stage and in person for the thousands who have been lucky enough to have heard your lead voice and be moved by it.
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I'm sure he lived those lyrics by what he demonstrated to me.
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Tom Kentish
Northbrook, New Tradition
acapella@msn.com
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Return-receipt-to: JIM.CARSON@Warren.US.ALCAN.CA
Disclose-recipients: prohibited
Date: Mon, 04 Aug 1997 15:33:45 -0500
From: carson
Subject: Re: Randy Chisolm
Autoforwarded: false
Importance: normal
Sensitivity: Company-Confidential
UA-content-id: 11B823DC2C00
Hop-count: 1
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I remember a time a few years ago, the feature quartet on our show for the Warren, OH chapter was the 'Naturals.' (I think it was just about their last show.. 'Marquis' was already performing to rave reviews.) I ended up sticking around after the afterglow, waiting to speak with Randy.
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Two things happened that night that I will never forget.
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First, the enthusiastic, and energetic lead from our local seniors quartet, Bill James, asked of he could sing one with the quartet. Randy graciously stood aside, as they sang a rousing, but slightly off-key version of some old chestnut. [was it "Nellie?"] Randy led the applause afterward, and never tried to suggest that the performance was anything but perfect. Bill has since passed away, I know this was one of the high points of his barbershop life.
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Then Randy stepped back into the quartet and said, "Let's do one more, fellas!" They went into a huddle for a minute, then turned to face the little group that was left. Randy looked into my daughter's eyes, and asked, "May we sing to you?" I thought he might tease her a bit, as he was known to do, occasionally. She could use some cheering up, but that was not his plan.
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By the wildest chance, he chose "Who'll dry your tears?" It was lovely. There wasn't a dry eye there, but Randy didn't know why his song moved everyone so. What he could not have known, and didn't find out until I told him several months later, was that my daughter had just ended her abusive marriage. This moment was the beginning of her long road to recovery.
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Randy was a consummate entertainer, and a dear, wonderful human being.
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Jim Carson
carson@warren.us.alcan.ca
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Date: Tue, 05 Aug 1997 10:33:12 -0700
From: KRS
Organization: KRS Marketing Inc.
Subject: Randy
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I am deeply saddened by news of Randy's passing.
I carry fond memories of sharing the stage with Randy when he was with Halton County Road Show, Ontario District Champs 1980. Our quartets performed on several shows together and we all knew then that we were in the company of a wonderful talent and a warm and loving person.
He never failed to have a warm smile and a bear hug for his friends or anyone else who wished to meet him.
He is sadly missed by all who knew him.
Our simpathy and thoughts go out to his family, friends and members of
Marquis.
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Matt Short (for The Tri-City Slickers Quartet and families)
From: "Coates, Jim"
Subject: Randy Chisholm's services - very long
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 12:15:44 -0400
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Friends -
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I've tried to capture many of the highlights of the services for Randy last Thursday and Friday, for those of you who could not attend in person.
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The visitation Thursday evening in Miamisburg was scheduled for 6-9 pm. I got there about 6:15 and the line was already out the door. By 6:30 the line was out the door, down the walk, down the street, and around the corner beside the building, and it stayed that way for the next three hours. The last people finally got through the line about 10:45. I would estimate that over 600 people visited - the number could be much higher. One of our barbershoppers is friends with the Mayor of Miamisburg, who said this was the largest gathering of people he had ever seen there.
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As strange as it may sound, it was almost hard to be sad at the funeral Friday, because there was such an outpouring of joy and celebration of Randy's life. Sure, many tears flowed - in fact, some of my notes are a bit smeared. But Randy's love of life and living it to the fullest lifted us all that day.
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The Rev. Stephen Bentley, a childhood friend of Jan's and long-time acquaintance of Randy, officiated the ceremony, which was attended by about 350 people. In his opening remarks, he set the tone for the service by sharing with everyone that Randy knew 'life was something to embrace, to celebrate, and, yes, to sing about.' Rev. Bentley then shared some scripture readings of hope with us. We then listened to the glorious strains of a song from Marquis' latest CD. Hearing Randy, Paul, Jay, and Dale singing 'With A Song in My Heart' was a reminder of just how talented Randy was and how much of himself he poured into his music.
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After the reading of Randy's obituary, rev. Bentley led us in the Lord's Prayer. Then the Miami Valley Music Men came to the front of the chapel to sing. Randy had been directing this chorus for the last eight months, and their membership had grown over 50% in that time. Under Assistant Director Hank Shuster, the chorus sang 'Just a Closer Walk With Thee', with the Cruise Control quartet starting it off.
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Society President Tim Hanrahan then shared some wonderful remarks about Randy and him impact on the Society, calling him 'not only a world class performer, but also a world class person.' Tim also thanked the rest of Marquis for their hard work and dedication to the craft in becoming champions and for carrying themselves so well as champions.
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Rev. Mark Blake, lead of current International Champs Yesteryear and a close personal friend of Randy's for many years, spoke next. Mark's remarks were so eloquent and wonderful that I tried to capture as much of them as I could. Mark spoke of his memories of Randy being centered around his joy, his love, and his celebration of life. He wanted to speak of three gifts that Randy had given him, all wrapped in the joy of music and in a barbershop context. He spoke of Randy's Faith - in giving himself over to a group of coaches and friends and having faith that they would mold him into what he wanted to become. He spoke of Randy's Hope - that he always held to the hope that he would achieve that goal of winning the quartet gold. And he spoke of Randy's Love - his love of all as brothers and sisters in harmony. Mark mentioned as he was talking about hope that the closest he ever came to a negative experience with Randy was in 1995 in Miami Beach as the quartet announcements were being made. After Nightlife had been announced third, Mark said his hopes were raised, only to find that Yesteryear had fallen short by one place to Marquis that year (of course, the way he expressed it brought a chuckle from the mostly-barbershopper auience.). Mark spoke of his memories of Yesteryear and Marquis standing in a room together at a JAD Top Gun school before either of them had won, coaching each other and helping each other become the best they could be and, ultimately, helping each achieve their goal of quartet gold. He said that every time Randy would see him backstage at a contest he would treat him almost as a son (which he didn't always appreciate - another chuckle), and tell him that someday soon he would reach his goal. He also shared with us a memory of riding back with Randy from Middle Bass Island, an annual JAD barbershop retreat. Mark said that Randy talked for about twenty minutes telling him how much he loved Mark and his quartet - no coaching, no instruction, just an outpouring of love from Randy to him. Mark mentioned that there were three lead singers that he had always tried to emulate during his barbershop career - Ken Hatton, for his freedom on stage; Joe Connelly, for his gift of interpretation; and Randy Chisholm, for his ability to put his heart on his sleeve and for how much he gave of himself in every performance.
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Randy's long-time chorus, Southern Gateway, then came to the front to sing. Our superb bass soloist, Larry Findlay, opened 'Amazing Grace' for us (how he got through this I still don't know). First he was joined by a quartet, and then director Jean Barford brought the rest of the chorus in to an inspiring conclusion.
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Rev. Bentley then reminded everyone how Randy was always out to go for the gusto, and that he always embraced life with that big bear hug of his. He did this in all aspects of his life - as a singer, and employee, a husband, and a father. Rev. Bentley spoke of visiting the site of the Oklahoma City bombing recently, which has become a national mourning site. He found a poem there that he felt could bring us comfort. It was so wonderful that I'm reproducing it here in it's entirety (thanks to Arnie Appel, a Xenia barbershopper, for capturing it).
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AND GOD SAID
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I said, 'God, I hurt.'
And God said - 'I know.'
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I said, 'God, I cry a lot.'
And God said - 'That's why I gave you tears.'
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I said, 'God, I'm so depressed.'
And God said - 'That's why I gave you sunshine.'
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I said, 'God Life is so hard.'
And God said - 'That's why I gave you loved ones.'
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I said, 'God, my loved one died.'
And God said - 'So did mine.'
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I said, 'God, it's such a loss.'
And 'God said, I watched mine nailed to a cross.'
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I said, 'But God, Your loved one lives.'
And God said - 'So does yours.'
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I said, 'God where are they now?.'
And God said - 'Mine is on my right, and yours is in the light.'
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I said, 'God -- it hurts.'
And God said - 'I know.'
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Then, in probably the most emotional moment of the service, Randy's daughters Erin and Kinsey read a letter they had written to their father. They wanted everyone to know that although he was great at singing songs, he was lousy at learning them, and that Erin and Kinsey had always helped him learn his music and suggest interpretations for him. They had also written of many other happy memories of him, like building them sandboxes when they were very little and waking them up at dawn on Christmas because he couldn't wait to see them open their presents. They also told him that they were really embarrassed when he would insist on holding their hands while singing and dancing his way through aisles in stores. But mostly they thanked him for making them what they are - strong, confident young women who weren't afraid to face life and go after the things they want.
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For the benediction, Southern Gateway was joined by the Cincinnati Delta Kings chorus to sing the 'Irish Blessing' under the direction of Randy's long-time coach and dear friend, Jim Miller. Jim Miller then invited all barbershoppers in the congregation to join the Gateway, Cincinnati, and Dayton choruses in going forth to 'Keep the Whole World Singing'. It was a beautiful, joy-filled ceremony.
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The procession to the cemetery was over a mile long, even though many people remained at the church at the family's request. The graveside service was short and simple. There was a nice reception when we returned to the church, with all of us sharing with each other many wonderful memories of Randy's life. In all, the two days were a just and fitting celebration of this wonderful man, filled with laughter and song. I think it's the kind of ceremony Randy would have loved.
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We'll miss you, big guy, but we'll never forget you.
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Jim Coates
jim.coates@daytonoh.ncr.com
