Obituary of Ronald Ackley

Ronald Lee Ackley was born Sept. 21, 1922 to Clara Thornburg Ackley and Roy E. Ackley in Richards, Colorado. Ronald passed away on Monday, November 3rd, 2014 in Colorado Springs. He attended country grade schools and graduated from Vilas H.S. in 1941. He loved playing basketball and baseball and was very good at both. He always enjoyed telling how he and his two brothers were 3 of the starting 5 of the Vilas H S. basketball team. He served in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific from 1944 till 1946 in charge of the ship’s stores and as a cook. He was at the Battle of Okinawa on the USS Eisele DE. Ronald married Viola Maxine Ames on April 13, 1947 and spent 67 years together. To this marriage 3 children were born, Verle, Londell and Cheryl. He and Viola farmed in Baca County until moving to Elbert County where he and brother-in-law Delmar Ames had a dairy and worked for logging companies. In 1959 the family moved to Simla where Ronald work for ASCS now FSA. During their years in Simla he also farmed and enjoyed raising pigs for, as he said, 60 years. He also worked as an appraiser for both FSA and Farm Credit and sold Moorman Feed. For many years Ronald really enjoyed working in the sale ring at Calhan Action. Ronald and Viola loved supporting Simla sports and attended many, many games for years even after their own children and grandkids had graduated. Ronald is survived by his son, Londell (Debra) Ackley, daughter Cheryl (Donald) Greenstreet, grandchildren Doug (Vonnie) Darling, Jerrod (Rishay) Ackley, Ryan Ackley, Cory Greenstreet, Donnelle (Mark) Boso, Cade (Mellie) Ackley, Chantelle Ackley, Ashley Ackley, Daylon Greenstreet, and Jessica (Andrew) Diaz, 16 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandson, many nieces and nephews and very special sister Rita Ames Gresham. He is preceded in death by his parents Roy and Clara Ackley, wife, Viola Ames Ackley, son Verle Ackley, brothers Duane and Lavaun (Peewee) Ackley, sisters Verdine Hickey and Fady Sanders and his special brother-in-law Delmar Ames. A small graveside service will be on Tuesday, November 11th, 2014, at the Simla Cemetery at 11:00 am. The family would ask that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care 2550 Tenderfoot Hill St. Colorado Springs, CO 80906.