Ronnie was a great husband and father. I am the sister-in-law. I know how he loved his family. His wife and kids were his life. His life was ended much to soon.
I had the good fortune of spending an afternoon with Ronnie and his Wife here in Houston when Ronnie was visiting M.D. Anderson.
He was very ill with colon cancer at the time, but still the same guy. Just a joy to be around and very philosophical and peaceful about his situation. We spent the afternoon after he saw his doctors, hanging out at at a tennis club, chatting over some late lunch.
We shared a laugh or two about the old times, particularly one from the 20th reunion, when Ronnie sees me and says, "Hey, Jimmy, I played golf with your Dad last week." to which I answered, "how was he hitting?" and Ronnie says pretty good, except for the short game, to which I replied, "I would expect his putter to be a bit stiff, he's been dead for 13 years!" (Ronnie was actually playing with some guy named Veal, oddly enough)So when we are laughing about that just a couple of weeks before he died, Ronnie said, "what did your Daddy die from? " and Im like, "Um...colon cancer." Ronnie says, laughing, ok THAT'S irony!"
Ronnie really was a great guy. I had not seen him for 30 years. Then I finally went to a reunion, 30th. It was later after that weekend I found out how sick he was. Please any one 50 years or older, please get your colon checked. Something kept telling me to and when I finally did, I had had colon cancer for 3-5 years. Doc got it all out, so no chemo or radiation. But then, my colon did perforrate later that same day, so spent 2 weeks, Christmas and New Years, in the hospital. That only happens 1 in 10,000 cases. So, in memory of Ronnie, get your colon checked.
Ronnie was the best friend anyone could hope to have. I never watch Joe Cocker without thinking of Ronnie. He was a very talented, sincere individual. Most people never have the opportunity to know someone like Ronnie. A true friend that will always be missed. I am sure "The Gator" has already put together a group in heaven that can play "Poke Salad Annie" as well as the Lake Washington Trio ever did it
When Ronnie and his wife left Houston that day, it bagan to rain, and as I was driving home in the Houston traffic in the rain, I had this one compelling thought that still haunts me to this day, "why didn't I make the effort to spend time with quality people like Ronnie?" Why did I let the years and a few miles get in the way all that good hang time we could have had? Magnify that by all of us and all the years, and you have the reason that class reunions are so important.
I'm proud to say that Ronnie Adams was my friend because he was he was a good, honest, decent, kind man. He loved to play his guitar and sing and did so for all the various GHS clubs, whenever they would let him. What you saw was what you got with Ronnie. I think we all have the same feelings for Ronnie. Some of you express it much better than I do. Here is a true story that makes me laugh whenever I think about it. It was just after graduation, and I was about to leave for Ole Miss. Melanee Maranto had just split from a long time boy friend whose name I forget, and I asked Ronnie to "keep an eye on Melanee for me" because I wanted to ask her out when I came back to town, but I didn't get back as soon as I thought I would. Well, when I did get back, he and Melanee were already dating; later they became engaged and eventually married and were obviously made for each other. That was the first and last time I ever asked any of my friends to keep an eye on a girl for me. LOL Of course being his good friend, I was very happy for him and Melanee, and he and I laughed about this more than once before I went to Tennessee, and we lost contact with each other. I feel certain he is still keeping an eye on Melanee and their precious children. I just hope his children will always remember how special he was and how much he loved them and Melanee.
Ronnie was a great guy & a good friend to everyone he meet. We started first grade together at Fulwiler Elementary. We bonded right away because we were the smallest in the class. Melanee payed me a very high comment by saying that she thought Ronnie & I looked a lot alike. I miss him dearly.
Can't say enough nice things about Ronnie A. He was always so sweet and kind. I will always remember the first time I heard Otis Redding's Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay was with Ronnie and maybe Sally riding around in her volkswagen. He loved that song as well as Light My Fire by the Doors and Love Me Tender by Percy Sledge. I don't think we will ever find anyone to replace him doing the alligator on the dance floor at each and every opportunity he had to do it. I always got a kick out of it! So, listen, you guys, one of you is going to have to take up the slack at the reunion and get down and do the alligator in Ronnie's memory! Ronnie, we love and miss you!!!!
Jeff Harrison (1970)
Ronnie was a great husband and father. I am the sister-in-law. I know how he loved his family. His wife and kids were his life. His life was ended much to soon.Jim Veal (1970)
I had the good fortune of spending an afternoon with Ronnie and his Wife here in Houston when Ronnie was visiting M.D. Anderson.He was very ill with colon cancer at the time, but still the same guy. Just a joy to be around and very philosophical and peaceful about his situation. We spent the afternoon after he saw his doctors, hanging out at at a tennis club, chatting over some late lunch.
We shared a laugh or two about the old times, particularly one from the 20th reunion, when Ronnie sees me and says, "Hey, Jimmy, I played golf with your Dad last week." to which I answered, "how was he hitting?" and Ronnie says pretty good, except for the short game, to which I replied, "I would expect his putter to be a bit stiff, he's been dead for 13 years!" (Ronnie was actually playing with some guy named Veal, oddly enough)So when we are laughing about that just a couple of weeks before he died, Ronnie said, "what did your Daddy die from? " and Im like, "Um...colon cancer." Ronnie says, laughing, ok THAT'S irony!"
What a great guy.
Sandra Kay Mitchell (Chambless) (1970)
Ronnie really was a great guy. I had not seen him for 30 years. Then I finally went to a reunion, 30th. It was later after that weekend I found out how sick he was.Please any one 50 years or older, please get your colon checked. Something kept telling me to and when I finally did, I had had colon cancer for 3-5 years. Doc got it all out, so no chemo or radiation. But then, my colon did perforrate later that same day, so spent 2 weeks, Christmas and New Years, in the hospital. That only happens 1 in 10,000 cases.
So, in memory of Ronnie, get your colon checked.
Raymond Messer (1970)
Ronnie was the best friend anyone could hope to have. I never watch Joe Cocker without thinking of Ronnie. He was a very talented, sincere individual. Most people never have the opportunity to know someone like Ronnie. A true friend that will always be missed.I am sure "The Gator" has already put together a group in heaven that can play "Poke Salad Annie" as well as the Lake Washington Trio ever did it
Jim Veal (1970)
When Ronnie and his wife left Houston that day, it bagan to rain, and as I was driving home in the Houston traffic in the rain, I had this one compelling thought that still haunts me to this day, "why didn't I make the effort to spend time with quality people like Ronnie?" Why did I let the years and a few miles get in the way all that good hang time we could have had? Magnify that by all of us and all the years, and you have the reason that class reunions are so important.Jon Swint (1970)
I'm proud to say that Ronnie Adams was my friend because he was he was a good, honest, decent, kind man. He loved to play his guitar and sing and did so for all the various GHS clubs, whenever they would let him. What you saw was what you got with Ronnie. I think we all have the same feelings for Ronnie. Some of you express it much better than I do. Here is a true story that makes me laugh whenever I think about it. It was just after graduation, and I was about to leave for Ole Miss. Melanee Maranto had just split from a long time boy friend whose name I forget, and I asked Ronnie to "keep an eye on Melanee for me" because I wanted to ask her out when I came back to town, but I didn't get back as soon as I thought I would. Well, when I did get back, he and Melanee were already dating; later they became engaged and eventually married and were obviously made for each other. That was the first and last time I ever asked any of my friends to keep an eye on a girl for me. LOL Of course being his good friend, I was very happy for him and Melanee, and he and I laughed about this more than once before I went to Tennessee, and we lost contact with each other. I feel certain he is still keeping an eye on Melanee and their precious children. I just hope his children will always remember how special he was and how much he loved them and Melanee.Debbie Chandler (Noland) (1970)
Ronnie was always so sweet. I don't remember ever seeing him without a smile.Ricky Shepherd (1970)
Ronnie was a great guy & a good friend to everyone he meet. We started first grade together at Fulwiler Elementary. We bonded right away because we were the smallest in the class. Melanee payed me a very high comment by saying that she thought Ronnie & I looked a lot alike. I miss him dearly.Linda Coleman (Williamson) (1970)
Can't say enough nice things about Ronnie A. He was always so sweet and kind. I will always remember the first time I heard Otis Redding's Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay was with Ronnie and maybe Sally riding around in her volkswagen. He loved that song as well as Light My Fire by the Doors and Love Me Tender by Percy Sledge. I don't think we will ever find anyone to replace him doing the alligator on the dance floor at each and every opportunity he had to do it. I always got a kick out of it! So, listen, you guys, one of you is going to have to take up the slack at the reunion and get down and do the alligator in Ronnie's memory! Ronnie, we love and miss you!!!!