'His journey was short but his purpose on this earth was divine'
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EVERETT, Wash. -- What started as family hiking trip last weekend ending in tragedy when a 30-year-old Everett man died.
Now Randy Stupey's family is mourning his loss and sharing their memories of the outdoorsman.
Coming from a big family, hiking was how Randy and his big brother Ryan connected, and they went on countless hikes together over the years.
Last weekend's trip to the Cascade foothills east of Skykomish should have been just another adventure between brothers.
"We were going back to a lake we'd been at many times," Ryan said.
With a wife and two children, it wasn't always easy for Randy to find the time for the trips with is brother. His wife, Elene, said he looked forward to them.
"It was always really hard for them to get away, so when they could it was a big deal and he would plan for weeks in advance and he just loved it," she said.
For years, the brothers had talked about the day they'd be able to bring their own sons on the hiking trips, and Ryan's oldest son got his turn last weekend.
The family was hiking on an unmarked fishermen's trail that leads to Lake Simms when Ryan and his son became separated from Randy. Ryan said he and Randy had been calling out to each other throughout the hike, but at one point Randy stopped responding.
"We had never been separated before, but we were prepared for whatever," Ryan said.
Ryan got his son set up at camp and retraced his steps in hopes of finding his brother. He came across a spot he felt Randy had been.
"A mossy patch on this long beautiful rock, but I couldn't see the end," he said.
Something told him to stay back, so the next morning he and his son hiked to an area with cell service and called 911.
"By the time we got to Eagle Lake the helicopter was already circling over head," Ryan said.
Next he called the family, telling his father he had lost Randy. Then they waited. On Sunday they got word that Randy's body had been found in the very same area Ryan had spotted.
"It took every ounce of my body not to go out there, because everything led me to that, which probably did the same for him," Ryan said.
The family is now left with memories of an all-too short life.
"His journey was short but his purpose on this earth was divine," Elene said.
The family plans to hold a memorial service for Randy on Monday.
Now Randy Stupey's family is mourning his loss and sharing their memories of the outdoorsman.
Coming from a big family, hiking was how Randy and his big brother Ryan connected, and they went on countless hikes together over the years.
Last weekend's trip to the Cascade foothills east of Skykomish should have been just another adventure between brothers.
"We were going back to a lake we'd been at many times," Ryan said.
With a wife and two children, it wasn't always easy for Randy to find the time for the trips with is brother. His wife, Elene, said he looked forward to them.
"It was always really hard for them to get away, so when they could it was a big deal and he would plan for weeks in advance and he just loved it," she said.
For years, the brothers had talked about the day they'd be able to bring their own sons on the hiking trips, and Ryan's oldest son got his turn last weekend.
The family was hiking on an unmarked fishermen's trail that leads to Lake Simms when Ryan and his son became separated from Randy. Ryan said he and Randy had been calling out to each other throughout the hike, but at one point Randy stopped responding.
"We had never been separated before, but we were prepared for whatever," Ryan said.
Ryan got his son set up at camp and retraced his steps in hopes of finding his brother. He came across a spot he felt Randy had been.
"A mossy patch on this long beautiful rock, but I couldn't see the end," he said.
Something told him to stay back, so the next morning he and his son hiked to an area with cell service and called 911.
"By the time we got to Eagle Lake the helicopter was already circling over head," Ryan said.
Next he called the family, telling his father he had lost Randy. Then they waited. On Sunday they got word that Randy's body had been found in the very same area Ryan had spotted.
"It took every ounce of my body not to go out there, because everything led me to that, which probably did the same for him," Ryan said.
The family is now left with memories of an all-too short life.
"His journey was short but his purpose on this earth was divine," Elene said.
The family plans to hold a memorial service for Randy on Monday.
My heart just breaks for his sons and his parents and the family. Â His ex-wife is such a pretty girl. Â I pray she finds peace too.Â
Very sad, but very poorly written story.
The Stupey family is without a doubt a fantastic family full of love and laughter. This is a horrible tragic accident and my heart breaks for them.
My thoughts and prayers to the Stupey family, RIP Randy.Â
RIP, I hope the family finds comfort knowing their loved one is looking over them and smiling with love and pride.
Anyone who knows the Stupey family, understand that they would do anything for each other. I know Ryan would never give up on Randy. To the ass that left that unbelievable comment, how dare you comment on someone's loss and grief! Obviously you don't understand the meaning of family and you certainly don't know the dynamics of the Stupey family. This loss is so not easy. We love you Stupey family and pray for you all to heal in this super difficult time.
@Katie Although I didn't know them, I do feel for yours and the families loss. Sounds like a really wondeful bunch of folks! As for the comment by the ass, I don't see it and probably wouldn't want to see it, maybe KOMO removed it. I'm posting maybe late to this as it's 9/7. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family.Â
Looks like this family needs to get out there too, because it seems like Randy might still be out there for them once in a while.
Rip May the family find peace and comfort during this time
This is Just So Sad I am So Grieving For this Whole Family , What a Tragic Loss To a Beautiful Family In Our Community Makes You More Thankful for Every Day You are Blessed to be With Our Loved ones . May God Bring you Comfort in Your Time Of Loss Truly So Very Sorry Sincerely Donn Waldal
My heart hurts for the family. Elene and I were friends in school, and my heart goes out to her. My prayers are with her family.
My heart breaks for the Stupey family, I've known Elene for many many years and I can't imagine her pain.Â
My heart goes out to the Stupey family. Â I love you guys and my thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time. Â I am so sorry you are all having to go through this.
Sad story, but I hope this debunks some of the previous comments on Randyâs death about why his brother would push on without him. Best wishes to the family of this man.
Well whet the hell happened to him? Did he fall off the rock? Something told you to stay back? Why? I don't understand. Maybe he needed help and had you looked over the end of the rock, he could have been saved or something??
 @sirgavin7 People, Im sorry my comment disturbed you. I meant no disrespect to you or the victim and his family. I was just hunting for more of the story. The story says mossy rock, not cliff or ledge.. I couldn't really take anything from that as I dont know the trail or area. Had I known it was hundreds of feet as I saw from a comment below, I would have reserved my comment.
 @sirgavin7 You have no reason to apologize.  These people looking to lash out attacked you without even comprehendining what you wrote.Â
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Maybe they should have a little more respect for others comments and stop attacking others. Â
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Again, Â No apology needed when you are the victim of the mob mentality above. Â
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These people should be ashamed of themselves and their hate filled words towards you.Â
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 @sirgavin7 Your apology is accepted. Thank you.
 @sirgavin7 asked questions because the story is not clear. No where does it say he fell from the rock in this story. You guys who respond and criticize, look at your selves. Look at what Sirgavin wrote and then look at your response. It is clear that the facts were not available to him and that is why he is asking questions. The story says nothing about a fall or hundreds of feet.Please don't get all huffy puffy and defensive, stay rational. Then again... who can pass up an opportunity to become righteous when there are wounds to "protect". Not many people....
Thank you. I meant no disrespect the family.. I just thought the story was incomplete. @Kyle EnillikengeÂ
 @sirgavin7 You must be feeling really bare assed right now. It would be good of you to disappear with your comment deleted! Don't mess with good people!! Especially with our family!!! Your questions have been answered honestly, now we demand an apology from you!Â
@sirgavin7 This would be a good time to delete your ignorant comment.
 @Eagle98223  @sirgavin7 oh the irony!
 @sirgavin7 I would agree with others that tell you think before you say/write something, but it is clear to me that you are ill-equipped to do so. I've read your other posts, and it is clear to me that you know very little about anything. I would encourage people who know the Stupey family, as well as those who don't, to ignore this person. Focus instead, on the outpouring of support from friends and the community. May God bless the Stupey family and may he also see fit to have sirgavin7's only two neurons collide at least once, to form an intelligent thought!
@sirgavin7 It is not your place to question the workings of God's angles here on earth. When the Lord calls us home we morn our loss and celebrate their time with us. Never do we point fingers or attach blame to the death. My family will be ignoring your thoughtless comment.
Sharon
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@sirgavin7 Whoever you are, you have a whole town hating you right now, IDIOT!
 @Kelli  @sirgavin7 Why? I was wondering the same thing too after I read the article. What happened?
 @I Like Meat  @Kelli  @sirgavin7 Me too, it was a poorly written article that left ambiguous exactly how he came to his demise. But god forbid someone point that out and ask for some kind of clarification without every judgmental a-hole in the state chiming in to trash your "insensitivity."
@Kelli ....I agree...how thoughtless...hateful...
 @sirgavin7 Clearly, you don't understand. Ryan is a person that has dedicated his life to helping those around him. He lost his younger brother, whom he always acted as a protector for. There is NOTHING that Ryan would not do for his family, yet there are times when there is simply nothing you can do. Questioning someone's actions at a time of such loss and pain is rather rude and pointless. It only causes more pain and suffering.
 @sirgavin7 Do  you stop to think before posting on here that Randy is a real person, not just a news article, with a real family who may come on here and view your thoughtless words? I am grateful that Ryan didn't go out and look or we would have lost two very special members of our family rather than one, which is heartbreaking enough.Â
 @sirgavin7 Dont you ever ever question Ryan's will or fight to save his brother! You ass! You have no right to ever do this or say things like this to a family in this kind of pain! He fell over a hundred feet down to his death and Ryan and his 17 year old son search desperately for his for over 12 hours! You should be ashamed of yourself and everyone else is as well.
 @sirgavin7 you need to think before you reply...had Ryan gone out further to look, he too would have taken the fall.  This family is grieving this tragedy and it is people like you, making stupid comments that makes it more difficult!  He couldn't have been saved.  The fall killed him!
@sirgavin7 The next time you decide to have a thought... Dont.
 @sirgavin7 Do you think much before speaking?
@sirgavin7 Or perhaps he saved his own life! What an asinine thing to say.Â
I knew Randy while in high school when he went to O'Dea through some mutual friends. He was without a doubt, one of the funniest human beings I had ever met. The man had a way of making people laugh that I've never forgotten. I just came across this story and am heartbroken for his family. My condolences to all that knew him better than I. RIP STUPASITRON
Rest in peace.