Ronald Nelson McKinley

Ronald Nelson McKinley, 81, of Cheney, passed away Dec. 1, 2016. Ronald was born to Frederick and Ida (Showalter) McKinley on Feb. 19, 1935, in Cheney. They lived and farmed on the Moss-Miller Ranch in northern Whitman County.

He is a grandson of the late George W. and Mabel (Box) Showalter, who homesteaded in the Tyler area in 1894. Fred and Ida purchased Milton Showalter's farm in 1950 and moved to Amber. Ron attended Amber School until it consolidated with Cheney in 1949. Ron then attended Cheney High School and graduated in 1954.

He continued to work on the farm while attending Eastern Washington State College part-time. He married Patricia (Pierce) on March 17, 1957. They were married 59 1/2 years.

Ron served his community in many ways. He was a volunteer firefighter for 58 years for Spokane County Fire District No. 3 and was a fire commissioner for the district for 18 of those years. Ron was Firefighter of the Year in 1993 and again in 1999.

Ron was a member of Temple Lodge No. 42 in Cheney for 50-plus years and was a Past Worshipful Master and served as secretary for 37 years. He received the prestigious Hiram Award and was also a member of No. 310 Eastern Washington Lodge of Research. He was a 50-year-plus member of Martha Chapter No. 60, Order of Eastern Star. Ron was a member of Amber Grange and then Tyler Grange for over 50 years. He also was a member of Spokane County Cattlemen, Washington Cattlemen's Association and Washington Wheat Growers Association. Ron served his country as a member of the Washington Army National Guard.

He is survived by his wife, Pat, son, Michael (Genevieve), daughter, Brenda (Larry) Andrew, sister Lois (Ben) Merrill, two sisters-in-law, Jane (Pierce) Marsh and Bev (Pierce) Davis; granddaughters, Kalen (Jameson) Ault, Erin (Bert) Carlstrom, Lauren McKinley, grandsons Ethan and Shane Andrew, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and numerous friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 19, 2016, at Fire District No. 3, 10 S. Presley Drive, Cheney. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Spokane, PO Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210-2215 or Lance Hill Cemetery Association, c/o Ron Mill, 22206 W. Pine Springs Road, Cheney, WA 99004.