Ronald Lyle Passey

Ronald Lyle Passey

1926 - 2018

Ronald Lyle Passey, age 91, of Magrath, Alberta passed away peacefully on September 25, 2018 from causes incident to age.  Ron was born on December 31, 1926 in Magrath to William Toomer Passey and Ruth Myrtle (Norton) Passey.  He was the fifth of seven children.

He attended Magrath schools and after high school joined the US Air Force.  In 1949 he was stationed in Japan, and during the Korean War he flew reconnaissance missions as a photographer.  After leaving the Air Force he lived and worked in Salt Lake City but moved to Great Falls to be closer to home so that he could court Jean Gurney.  They were married October 28, 1953 and raised four children while living in Great Falls, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat and Camrose, eventually retiring to Magrath.  Ron spent most of his working life as a store manager for Sears.  As an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in his Priesthood quorums, as Bishop in Medicine Hat, and for 20 years in the Cardston Temple.  Ron was never a wealthy man but was always generous with what he had and was very tender hearted.   

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, his parents and siblings, and by two grandchildren, Daniel Spackman and Allison (Spackman) Morris.  He is survived by his four children and their spouses: daughter, Donna and Kent Spackman of Tualatin, Oregon; son, Keith and Jeanine Passey of Magrath, Alberta; daughter, Larene and Doug Zimmer of Daysland, Alberta; and daughter, Karen and Marc Payne of Lehi, Utah.  He is also survived by sixteen grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren.

A funeral will be held on Saturday, September 29, 2018, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Garden Place Chapel (170 North Centre Street, Magrath, Alberta) at 11:00 a.m. after which Ron will be laid to rest in the Magrath Cemetery.  Family and friends may meet the family between 10:00 and 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral service.

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