Ronald Lee Hefley

Ronald Lee Hefley, 77, passed away May 24, 2018. Celebration of Life Service will be held Thursday May 31, 2018 at 10 a.m. at Trinity Fellowship Church, West Auditorium. Arrangements are under the direction of Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St., Amarillo, Texas. Born on July 1, 1940, to T.D. and Ruby McAuley Hefley, Ron was the third member of the group of children born to this union. Ron was born in Woodward, Oklahoma, where his grandfather was the sheriff of Woodward County. His grandmother was a red-headed beauty, Johnnie Akins, who met her husband, Harry McAuley, while working as a Harvey girl at the Santa Fe Depot in Woodward. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Amarillo, Texas where another child was born making the sibling count to four. Ron's dad, T.D. Hefley, went to work at the Helium Plant making him unable to join World War II as a soldier, but supplying helium to the war effort. Ron and his siblings had great parents while young when life was at a simpler time. Growing up in the San Jacinto district with mostly working class families, most of whose fathers worked at the Copper Smelting Plant, he had a lot of neighborhood kids to play with and all became a close knit group. He and siblings were very close and remained so throughout their lives. Ron did not have a lot of luxuries as a child, but his Dad and Mother did instill a work ethic unsurpassed by anyone. He and his brother, John, caddied at the Amarillo Country Club. Walking to and from their home after caddying and wading the lake at the club for golf balls on the weekends. He needed to make money for school clothes and he did just that by selling the balls found in the lake back to the country club. At the age of 17 Ron joined the U.S. Navy and the coming together of that endeavor completed his education where he received his GED. He was stationed on the USS Cabildo, Amphibious Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, a transport ship taking the marines to and from the beach. Ron was the driver of the transport vehicle while also working as an Engineman on the ship. He was also involved at the Atomic Bomb testing in the Pacific Islands in the 1960's. After his service in the Navy, Ron went to work for the Amarillo Fire Department where his favorite expression was to "put the wet stuff on the red stuff". After leaving the service, Ron married Mary Myers who had two children; Barbara and Mark, who Ron adopted. From this union they had two more children, Ronald D. Hefley, and Daylyn Michael-Boyer. Ron and Mary liked to travel and did that each year going all over the United States seeing what there was to see. As a young man, Ron was a funny, caring, warm human being who loved medicine and caring for other people. Considering this, it is no surprise the career path Ron chose. He not only served the City of Amarillo for over 25 years in its Fire Department, he also became one of the first trained paramedics on its force. Later Ron taught EMT classes at Amarillo College, teaching paid and volunteer first responders from across the panhandle area. He also worked at the Comm Center of Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo. Ron had a servants heart and would do anything for anyone and was there when needed. All you had to do was call. He is survived by his son, Ron Hefley, wife Wendy, and his grandsons, Ben Hefley and Matt Hefley. His daughter Barbara Quilla, husband Peter, grandsons Jason Teague, Eric Teague, Nick Quilla, and granddaughter Lauren Bodi. His daughter Daylyn Michael-Boyer, husband Chris, grandson Ryan Michael, granddaughters Maci Michael, Madison Boyer, Allison Boyer, and Sydney Boyer. Mark's children; granddaughters Cassie Whatley and Jennifer Bell, and grandson Mark Allen Hefley. Numerous great grandchildren. Siblings, John Hefley and wife Elaine, Leona Barnett, and Melva Magee and husband Mickey. The mother of his children, Mary Myers. He is preceded in death by his father and mother T.D. and Ruby Hefley, son Mark Hefley, son-in-law Josh Michael, grandparents Hub and Edna Hefley, and Harry and Johnnie McAuley. The family would like to express a very heartfelt thank you to the staff of Thomas E. Creek VA Community Living Center. You all mean more to us than you will ever know and we can never, ever thank you enough for the respect, love, and care you have given to Ron the last 14 years of his life. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be sent to Thomas E. Creek VA Community Living Center, 6010 Amarillo Blvd West, Amarillo, Texas, 79106.