Ronnie L.Stailey

"It is a rarity that you will find a lifelong friendship such as I found in Ronnie Stailey. Ronnie and I first met nearly 40 years ago working on the freight dock of Yellow Freight where we instantly became friends. I remember one day at work, we both finally got off the dock to go drive in the city. Ronnie and I were both excited and hurried to our assigned trucks to begin our day of driving. At that time the city tractors were parked on the end of the yard facing the levy and both of our tractors were parked side by side. We both climbed in our trucks and I heard Ronnie crank his engine and noticed it sounded different from what it normally should. Unknown to Ronnie at the time, his engine was what we call “dieseling” that is “running backwards”. Then I looked over at Ronnie and he placed his truck in reverse and looked out his rear window and started to back up when he let off the clutch, his truck surged forward and went down the levy about 100 feet before it stopped. I ran down the levy toward Ronnie and he climb out the truck looking white as a ghost, but physically he was okay. I drove over to the maintenance shop and borrowed some chain and returned to Ronnie and we pulled his truck out from the levy.
That was how our friendship began and endured through the years. By helping to “pull” each other out of the problems we had encounter in life. I could not begin to count the many times Ronnie has pulled me out. It would be fair to say, I most likely would not alive today if not for Ronnie’s friendship.
Moreover, Ronnie could turn tragedy into laughter, as we both were driving for Yellow one day I had a delivery for Sterling Jewelers, as I arrive I saw Ronnie’s truck up to their loading dock. Then Ronnie walked out in front motioning for me to come here. So I walked up to the dock and I could see Ronnie was boiling mad, then he motioned for me to look at the inside of his trailer. Sterling Jewelers on Greenville Avenue in Dallas had a real steep drop to the loading dock. Ronnie’s trailer was loaded with a tall pallet of boxes containing 10,000 loose marbles that had fell once he bumped the dock. When Ronnie opened the trailer door, all 10,000 marbles came pouring out into the warehouse area. I could see Ronnie was upset and rightly so, but I could not help myself and had to ask Ronnie while laughing, “Did you lose your marbles”. Ronnie looked at me angrily then started laughing too. Soon we both were laughing so hard and throwing marbles at each other like two kids. Then the store manager came out looking angry and saw us laughing, and then he began laugh too. Shortly after, we both got a dustpan and a broom and pickup what marbles we could. I last heard as of today, they are still finding marbles in that warehouse.
To the family members of Ronnie, I would like to say for the last 40 years rarely did a week go by that Ronnie and I didn’t talk to each other and during most of those conversations Ronnie had spoken about at least one or more of you. Some of you may not know me or remember me but I feel as though I know each of you through Ronnie. Ronnie cared about his family and felt responsible for each one. Especially in this last year, he bragged about how well everybody was doing and how all of you cared for his needs.
As I was honored by Ronnie to be a pallbearer at both of his parent’s funerals, I am honored to be here and speak with you today. Thank you.
Randy Bonner 6/10/2017
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"We have so many great memories of Ronnie. Such a kind and caring person. I do remember the day I had to have surgery in Houston Texas. We did not know how we could get 6 people in a 2 door pickup truck! Ronnie put all his pains to the side and he came and took all of us to the hospital. I will never forget this precious man. May God Bless him. We love him dearly and he will be missed."