Bayless, Ronald

A loving father, grandfather and great grandfather, Ron
passed away while awaiting surgery after suffering a heart
attack recently. A kind, humorous and gentle man, Ron
loved the game of golf, playing his home course, Timber
Creek Golf Course, many times a week. Ron was born to
Pauline and Dolf Bayless in Hawthorn, CA. His father died
when Ron was 3 months old and he was raised by his
mother and step father, Edward Averill. After graduating
from high school, Ron joined the Navy at age 17. In the
Navy he learned aircraft electronics and served two tours
of duty during the Korean War, one on the aircraft carrier
USS Princeton and one on the USS Yorktown. During the
second tour, Ron fell ill to tuberculosis and was
hospitalized for 2 years, eventually having a lung removed
at the San Fernando Veterans Hospital. Shortly after this
surgery he persuaded a lovely nurse, Joyce Glaeser, to go
out with him on his first leave away from the hospital. She
took a gamble and said yes; after all he did have the New
Yorker magazine delivered to his room on a regular basis.
Little did she know, Ron was mainly interested in the
magazine for its comics, not the articles. Love quickly
blossomed for these two and they married four days after
his discharge from the hospital on June 23, 1956. Ron and
Joyce had 2 children, Laura and Bob. The four of them
moved to Spokane, WA in 1971 where Ron became a
successful real estate broker. Ron retired in 1997 and he
and Joyce moved to the warmer climate of Roseville, CA
where he could play golf year round. Joyce passed away
with Ron by her side in March 2007 after 50 years of
marriage. Ron is survived by his daughter Laura and her 3
daughters, Diana, Yenny and Luz; and his son Bob, his
daughter Tanea and her husband, Reginald Blacke and
their 4 month old daughter, Lenaya. He also leaves behind
his buddy, a Scottie named Spike. Ron was blessed to find
love again and developed a close and happy relationship
with Sue Birilli and the two of them became engaged this
past February. Ron and Sue shared many memorable
experiences during their 2 years together, including a 14
day cruise to Hawaii in February. Ron's kindness,
generosity, wit, culinary skills and sense of humor will be
missed by everyone who knew him. A memorial service
will be held at 11AM on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at
Pleasant Grove Community Church, 1730 Pleasant Grove
Blvd, Roseville, CA 95747.

Published in Sacramento Bee from April 13 to April 14,
2010