Ronald Presley

Ronald Presley, 74, of Winters, Texas, passed away September 27, as the result of a vehicle accident.  Born, James Ronald Presley, on September 15, 1948, in Winters to (James) Hollis and (Bertie) Faye Seals.  He grew up in the Crews area and attended Winters schools.  As an adolescent, he started what would be the first of many cattle herds while also helping his dad with farming.  From an early age, he learned about hard work as well as providing for your family as he was preceded in death by his father, Hollis when Ronald was just a teenager.  Being an only child, he began farming and ranching to provide for his mother and himself while still in high school.

A reckless rebel, country boy from Crews wed a farm girl from Wingate in August of 1968.  He and Mary Lynn Pritchard had their first daughter, Alisa, on Valentine’s Day of 1977.  Their second, Jana, came along exactly a month later in March of ’82.  Besides his cowboy hat, Ronald wore many different hats throughout his lifetime.  In the ‘80s, he ran Presley Oil Company, which was an Exxon distributor of wholesale oil and fuel with a retail store.  He continued to farm and ranch as well as started cattle buying and hauling for others.  He was a member of the North Runnels Water Board in the ‘90s.  As his girls entered and advanced in WISD, he served on the school board for 20 years, stepping down when his youngest graduated in 2000.  In 2006, he ran for Runnels County Commissioner and began serving for Precinct 2 in 2007.  With the birth of his first grandchild in 2009, he received a new title as “Boss”, which he adored being.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and served on many boards there over the years.

In addition to those hats, he was a husband to Mary Lynn for 54 years.  They enjoyed watching Blizzard sports together even after their girls had graduated, taking trips to Abilene or San Angelo for doctor’s appointments, which would turn into running various errands and dining out.  They liked getting to watch their three grandkids’ sports as much as they could while spending time with their daughters and their families.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Hollis and Faye Presley, aunts and uncles, and many close friends, who he considered family.  He is survived by his wife, Mary Lynn; oldest daughter, Alisa Ellis and husband, Cliff of Leander; youngest daughter, Jana Presley and husband, Chase Pavlicek of La Vernia; three grandchildren, Carter and Ainsley Ellis, and Stetson “Dub” (as Boss always called him) Pavlicek; many cousins, numerous additional family he had obtained through Mary Lynn’s large family; longtime friends-David Grohman, Barry Hilliard, and Rodrick Bredemeyer; county employees, and all his daily coffee drinking cronies (as Mary Lynn often refers to them).

If you knew Ronald, you know he loved to talk, laugh with his friends and family, as well as strike up a conversation with a stranger.  Mary Lynn and his daughters would like to invite you to a celebration of his life, Saturday, October 15 ^th at the Winters High School gymnasium at 1:30 p.m. with a meal following in the cafeteria. Ronald would insist everyone eat and story swap, so please join and plan to stay as long as you like.

In lieu of flowers, Ronald would love if you donated in his memory to your local FFA organization, local 4-H chapter, West Texas Rehab, Livestock Weekly, or to the First United Methodist Church in Winters.  If you feel the calling to donate directly to Mary Lynn, there has been a Venmo made accepting donations.  Mary Lynn, Alisa, and Jana would like to thank the outpouring of love and support from all who have already and will in days to come.

As Boss would recommend, eat more beef and support your local farmer.