Ronald Harold was born on Thursday, June 15, 1933 to Harold “Harry” and Hilda Mae (Cole) McAllister in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. Ron was the fourth child of eight: Nellie; Herb; Irene; Ron; Viola; Jim; George and Elsie. Sadly, Viola died at the young age of two. Ron was extremely close to his siblings and he enjoyed any time they could all get together.
When Ron was just sixteen he moved out of the north down to the Lakeshore area of Toronto. He first worked for Loblaws delivering and then as a taxi driver. It was at this time that Ron married his first wife Dorothy. The couple then moved to Georgetown, owning and operating a variety store together. Four children were born to them; Debra (1955), Sherry (1956), Steven (1960) and Ronnie (1962). Soon Ron and Dorothy divorced, remaining friends for the rest of their lives.
In 1969, Ron was taken by a young woman who worked in his store. To be blunt, it was not love at first. Ron asked Gean out and she initially sad no! (Ouch!) However, Ron persisted and in 1970 Ron offered Gean an available apartment in his basement. Gean was on her own, raising three young children. She took him up on the offer and helped him by getting all seven kids (ranging in age from two to fourteen) off to school each morning. It took two years of asking, but in 1974 Gean and Ron were married at Grace United Church in Brampton.
Once married, Ron sold the store to Dorothy. The newly formed family moved to Brampton in 1974 and Ron worked for Laidlaw trucking, owning his own truck. It was long haul trucking and Ron was gone a lot. He left Sunday nights and didn’t arrive back home until early Saturday mornings. This, no doubt, took its toil and in 1988 he sold his truck and moved on.
Although the two did not get to travel much, they did thoroughly enjoy their trips east. Gean was born on Bell Island, Newfoundland and it was one place that Ron absolutely loved. His first trip out east was in 1976, then 1978 and again in the early 80’s.
For a short while – eight or nine years – Ron and Gean lived and worked in Bracebridge. He was employed by Fowlers Construction driving a dump truck. It was nice for Ron to be home very night. Meanwhile, Ron’s brother Herb was living in Owen Sound and through him they came to live down south. It was in 1990 that Ron and Gean moved to Chesley. Here, Ron continued his work career at M.E.I. until his stroke in 2005 forced him to retire.
Ron loved to build, especially bird houses and other small items for around the house. Nascar races were another favourite pastime and he loved #42 Ricky Rudd. Watching the Toronto Maple Leafs also helped to pass time. Gean recalled one evening when the Habs (whom Gean was cheering for) beat the Leafs. Ron got up at the end of the game turned the lights off and headed for bed, leaving Gean in the dark! The next morning Ron was quick to apologize for his antics the night prior.
He enjoyed watching Archie Bunker (All in the Family) and its spin off “The Jeffersons.” “I Love you a Thousand Ways” by Lefty Frizzell was Ron’s absolute favourite song. Although, the song by Tim Archer, “Blue of the Sky,” as well as “You Have Me,” “Please Play at my Home,” and “With all of my Love” were other favourites of his. To be honest any other classic country and western music would suffice. Drinking “Blue Light” or having a rye also greatly appealed to Ron as was eating Geanie’s famous cheese casserole. He loved yellow roses and was fond of the colour green.
However, the love of his life, other than Gean… better known to Ron as “My Geanie,” were his pets. There was “Sparkie” the Collie for whom Ron built a dog house in the basement only to find out it was too big to get out of the basement! 🙂 “Misty” the German Shepherd who would fetch Ron his slippers, “Sandy” the Terrier who was a great watch dog and “Snoopy” the Bichon Frieze who died a month after Ron went into the nursing home. Snoopy was spoiled, getting rides in a wagon to the park (so he didn’t have to walk). In fact, on one memorable occasion Ron placed Snoopy in a baby stroller and took him for a walk through downtown Chesley.
You just have to ask Gean to tell the funniest story ever! It involved a house in Georgetown, 24 ceiling tiles, paint thinner and a garden hose. It is just too funny! Another really funny story is of the owl bank the two used to save change in. It broke one day and they decided to count the money saved in it. Well. . . . it was somewhere around $6,000 Imagine! It took two and a half days to roll it all and a suitcase to carry it all to the bank, which of course broke just outside the bank doors. However, if it was a sad story told to Ron, or a sad movie, he would cry with all the other listeners and watchers. He was just that sentimental.
Ron wanted his family and friends to remember all the good times they shared together. His constant joking and tensing was hard to forget. He loved small talk and was a caring, loving, husband and friend. He would want you to remember all the joys you shared the last time you spoke, or the last time you saw each other, and always remember the words, “I love you!”
Ronald Harold McAllister of Chesley, passed away at Parkview Manor Health Care Centre, Chesley on Thursday, November 23, 2017 in his 85th year.
Beloved husband of Gean. Loving father of Debra, Sherry, Steven and Ronnie. Ron will be missed by his fourteen grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. He will be fondly remembered by his siblings Jim (June) of Ottawa, George of Welland, Nellie Dennis of Timmins, Irene Bailey of Hanover and Elsie Lockhart of Dundalk. Sadly missed by Gean’s children Vincent (Tanya), Robert, Colleen and their families. Ron was predeceased by his brother Herb, sister Viola in infancy and his parents Harold and Hilda (Cole) McAllister.
In respecting Ron’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be a private family service.
Memorial donations to Parkview Manor Residents Fund would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
