January 15, 1953 — May 17, 2026
Tyler
Memorial service for John R. “Randy” Caraway, age 73, of Tyler, Texas, will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Marvin Methodist Church in Tyler, Texas, with Dr. Doug Baker officiating. Interment will be at the United States Air Force Academy cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mr. Caraway passed away at Christus Mother Frances in Tyler, Texas, on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
John R. “Randy” Caraway was born on January 15, 1953, in Fort Worth, Texas, to the late John Wesley and Lois Lee (Puckett) Caraway. He married Melissa (Hudgins) Caraway in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 27, 1975. John graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1975 and earned his Master of Business Administration from Texas Tech University in 1982. He proudly served in the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his military career, he flew T-37, T-38, and A-7 aircraft as both a fighter pilot and an instructor pilot. Following his active-duty service, he continued serving in the Air Force Reserve as a medical administrator. After his military career, John worked in banking before retiring from a career in computer information security.
John is survived by his wife, Melissa Caraway of Tyler, Texas; daughters, Martha Caraway Rogers and husband Shawn of Rock Springs, Wyoming, Katie Caraway Prather and husband Steven of Bullard, Texas; granddaughter, Ava Prather; sister, Valerie Caraway of Houston, Texas, and foster brother, George Warner and wife Victoria of Rockwall, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lois Caraway.
Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209; the North Texas Association of Air Force Academy Graduates, 9720 Coit Road, Suite 220-124, Plano, TX 75025; or the Mission Team at Marvin Methodist Church, 300 W. Erwin Street, Tyler, TX 75702.
