Ron Yancey
Ron Yancey was a man who loved his family and worked hard to bring joy to them and the community he lived in.
Ronald James Yancey was born Sept. 12, 1950, in Batesville, Ark. He was called to the Lord on May 26, 2024.
Ron moved to Othello where he graduated high school and began his legendary work career. He married LeAnne Michael (daughters Shellie and Sandy) in December 1975, and they were blessed with the birth of their son, Justin, in 1976 to complete their family of five.
Ron worked sun-up to sun-down seven days a week. Various farm jobs included raising dairy heifers, raising cow-calf pairs, custom digging spuds, custom hauling of crops and cattle, turning wrenches and even pigeon collecting. Employers included Enterprise Oxygen, Para Livestock and Oxarc Welding Supplies, where Ron became the Moses Lake branch manager through his success in outside sales.
Along the way, Ron and Justin formed Yancey Farms where they grew hay and cattle.
In 1995, Ron, LeAnne and Justin formed Yancey Pallet where Ron’s chief role was salesman but his extended duties often made him everyone’s best friend, problem-solver and troublemaker too. Ron left Oxarc to work at Yancey Pallet full-time in 2010 when the pallet operation grew to need his talents constantly.
In 2020 Ron started Yancey Ranches North in Curlew, living out his dreams of beautiful scenery amongst his cattle and logging operations.
All this happened while Ron cultivated a huge weed-spraying hobby. He was up at the crack of dawn enjoying his cup of coffee, spraying ditch banks, canal banks, driveways, and everywhere else.
Ron was a man of big gestures, simple pleasures, and generosity. He lived life on his own terms. He especially loved his role as doting grandpa to Macey and Paige, with photos, a tattoo and bragging stories ready to share. Christmas won’t be the same without him.
Ron was preceded in death by his wife, LeAnne, father Ralph, dad Norris Hooper, and sister Deanna.
He is survived by son Justin (Sally), mom Jeanette Hooper, stepdaughters Shellie Strode and Sandy Maine, granddaughters Macey and Paige, sisters Renee (Byron) and Shelly, brothers Brad and Steven and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren shared with LeAnne, nieces, nephews, and many special friends.
There will be a gathering of friends and family at the Ironworks from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday June 14.