Ronald Wayne Rather

Ronald Wayne (Ron) Rather On September 1, 2016, Heaven gained a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Ron was born on June 10, 1949 in Marshall, Texas to the late Robert N. Rather Jr. and Margie Hamilton Rather. He was also preceded in death by his brother Robert N. (Bobby) Rather III. Ron was a graduate of Marshall High School, Marshall, Texas and graduated from Texas A & M University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. After graduation he married Laura Catherine (Cathy) Hintz at the First United Methodist Church, Marshall, Texas on June 10, 1972. He and Cathy started their marriage with a move to Tyler, Texas where he had accepted a job with the Kelley Springfield Tire Plant. A few years later he was hired by LaGloria Oil and Gas (now Delek refining) where he was manager of Projects and Engineering for over 30 years. After retiring from LaGloria, he joined Goar Allison and Associates as a consulting Chemical Engineer. Professional memberships included Texas Society of Professional Engineers, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and National Society of Professional Engineers. Ron was a Texas State Board registered Chemical Engineer. Ron was very active in the former Glenwood United Methodist Church where he served as Board Chairman, Trustee Chairman, Sunday School Teacher, Lay Leader to annual conference and various other committees. When Glenwood merged with Walter Fair Methodist Church and became Fairwood United Methodist Church he served on the Building Committee for the new Sunday School Wing and a rotating teacher of the New Beginnings Sunday School Class. In his early teens Ron became interested in a group of young men known as DeMolays, an organization for young men, sponsored by the Masonic Lodge. He was iniated into the organization and at that time started his path to becoming a Master Mason. He received the Chevalier Degree, the highest honor bestowed on an active DeMolay. When Tyler Chapter of DeMolay’s needed a leader to spear head the group of young men Ron was asked if he would take over the leadership. He accepted and thus began the challenge of guiding and nurturing young men into adulthood. He was affectionately known as “Dad Rather” and he absolutely loved his boys. A bond was formed as he counseled many young men, and the girls who became Sweetheart of the chapter, on the ways of the world and life in general. Ron and Cathy’s home was their home and there were many evenings and weekends that the “boys” would show up for visits, decorate the yard, play ping pong or show up for just plain fellowship and enjoy late night Pancakes! One of his proudest accomplishments was that many of “his boys” became Master Masons. Ron was awarded the Legion of Honor Degree, the highest degree conferred upon a Senior DeMolay for outstanding leadership and service to the Order of DeMolay. Ron joined Marshall Lodge No. 22. He became a Master Mason in October of 1971. In 1994 he became affiliated with Tyler Lodge No. 1233. He retained dual membership in both lodges. He received the Golden Trowel Award in 1984 from Tyler Lodge No. 1233 and served as Worshipful Master in 2005-2006. Ron received his 40 year pin for membership in 2011. He was a member of the Grand Lodge of Texas, Waco Scottish Rite, Texas York Rite and the Sharon Shrine. Besides his love of family, Ron loved photography. He has taken countless photos of family, friends, weddings, scenery, and wildlife. Since he retired, he and Cathy enjoyed traveling and photographing the many places they visited. One of his greatest joys was teaching his love of photography to Cathy. He bought her a camera and then had to get her newer and more advanced ones as she learned and developed her own style of photography. Ron developed a great love of photography at an early age. He saved cereal labels and ordered his first camera from an offer on the back of a cereal box. By the age of 12 he had several cameras and became the family and vacation photographer. During high school years he worked in a camera and film shop and had a paper route in the downtown area of Marshall. This afforded him the opportunity to save his earnings and in 1967 he bought his first professional camera, a Nikon F, a 35 millimeter film camera, the latest and most up to date camera of its time. He also studied and learned dark room developing techniques and every home that he and Cathy moved into had to have a room that could serve as a dark room! He got his dream of a dedicated, outfitted, darkroom in their current home and spent many, many hours of enjoyment developing the photographs that he took. When the digital cameras came along, he couldn’t wait to get one and learn all the aspects of digital photography. He always took his camera wherever he went because he would say, “You never know what you might see.” His grandchildren were the highlight of his life! He had a great love of trains and he would take them on little trips to see if one was due to come down the tracks. He taught Stephen and Caden to count by counting train cars as they went by. He was known as the “Sorcerer “of his family because he made all things happen. Another favorite event of his was the annual summer trip to the Ringling Bros. Circus. He loved nothing more than taking the family and watching the grans get so excited over all the acts. Everyone loved coming to Peanut and MooMoo’s at breakfast time to sit on the counter, or stand on a stool and stir, mixing and making batter for Waffles. It was the Saturday morning menu. He loved attending Caden’s baseball games, Stephen’s scouting events, and just having fun hanging out with the twins Zachary and Ella. He was such a good sport when Ella insisted that he learn the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Hot Dog dance! These were priceless times for all! Ron is survived by his wife of 44 years Cathy, daughters Catherine Rather Jones and husband Jason, of McKinney, Texas, Emily Rather Bohlin and husband Andrew of Katy, Texas, grandchildren, Caden Matthew Jones, Stephen Andrew Bohlin, Zachary David Bohlin and Ella Rose Bohlin, brother William H. (Bill) Rather and wife Terri, sister-in- law Wanese Rather and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be held on Wednesday September 7, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Marvin United Methodist Church, Tyler, Texas with The Rev. Benjamin West officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday,,, September 6, 2016 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home. Graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Scottsville Cemetery, Scottsville, Texas under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. If desired, memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 6977 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77030.

Ronald Wayne Rather

June 10, 1949 - September 1, 2016