NCHA News

Dr. William Randall "Randy" McKiever peacefully slipped away from this world June 24, 2021. Randy was born on March 23, 1955 at Drew Memorial Hospital in Monticello, Ark. to LaNell Sanderlin McKiever and William J. "W.J." McKiever. He was the eldest child and a natural-born leader. 

A graduate of Monticello High School, Randy graduated summa cum laude from UAM in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in biology before attending the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences where he graduated with an M.D. in 1981. He served a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Sacred Heart Health System in Pensacola, Fla. From 1983-86, he was an emergency room physician at the DeQueen Medical Center before returning to Monticello in 1986 to open McKiever Clinic.

For the next 20 years, Dr. McKiever practiced obstetrics, family medicine and general surgery. He served on the State Board of Health and as a team physician to the UAM football team. He also found the time to coach his sons' and nephews' Little League baseball team and Pee Wee basketball team.

Dr. McKiever never forgot his medical roots and still worked a weekly night shift at Drew Memorial emergency room as an attending physician until a brain injury ended his career in 2006. His proudest legacy is the thousands of children he safely delivered into the world.

Randy was preceded in death by his father, William J "W.J." McKiever; and grandparents, George William McKiever and Bessie Lee (Jordan) McKiever, and D.C. Sanderlin and Willie Lee (Shelton) Sanderlin. 

He is survived by: his mother, La Nell Sanderlin McKiever; children, Monica Lee (Zach), Joshua McKiever, (Amanda), Jay Randall McKiever, Jon Daniel McKiever, Randi McDougald (Alex), and Jeffery Spraggins; sister and brother, Leslie McKiever and Jay Bartley McKiever (Sharon); grandchildren, Slade and Maeme Lee, Addee and William Jett McKiever, William Jase McDougald, and Marley and Mercer Spraggins; nephews and nieces, Andrew and Bradley Bentz, Conner, Cole, and Kendall McKiever, and great-nephew and pal, AJ Bentz.

Randy is also survived by uncles and aunts, DC "Pete" Sanderlin (Glenda), Jimmy Sanderlin (Theresa), Wanda Chester, Connie Sanderlin and Jeanette Sanderlin; and special cousin, Stanley Chester; as well as a host of cousins, friends and former patients.

The McKiever Family would like to express heartfelt thanks to Dr. Tim Simon and Dr. Silvia Simon for their wonderful care of, far beyond their duty, Randy and his family. They would also like to thank Jerry and Beverly Davis for their tremendous loyalty and generosity in sending flowers every month and holiday to Randy for 15 years.

Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to the Dr. W.J. McKiever and Dr. Wm. R. McKiever Scholarship at the University of Arkansas Monticello, Office of Advancement at (870) 460-1028, P.O. Box 3520 Monticello, Ark. 71656. After endowment this scholarship will be offered to a Junior Pre-Pharmacy or Pre-Medical student at UAM.