George Ronald McRoy

George Ronald “Ron” McRoy

Born May 17, 1942, in Dallas Texas to George Alvin McRoy and Rubye Fritz McRoy. Died September 21, 2024, Paris, Texas. He attended Dallas schools, becoming a member of the first Kimball High School class, and graduating from there. He enlisted in the US Marine Corp, and to his everlasting disappointment, was discharged while in boot camp due to a virus he caught there.  He always identified as a Marine. Semper Fi! He attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, Lon Morris College, and SMU.  He made his career of thirty-five years in law enforcement, first in Lancaster, Texas, Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, and finally in the Constable’s office, Precinct 1 and Precinct 8. He loved being a police officer, and helping people. But his greatest joy was being a Search and Rescue officer and dog trainer. He and his dog, Brandy, worked the 1985 Mexico City Earthquake, the Guadeloupe River school bus disaster in 1987, the and many more, ending his career in SAR volunteering at the Murrah Building in 1995. 

He was a descendant of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred on his mother’s side, and shared an ancestor with President William McKinley, Winston Churchill, and Johnny Carson on his father’s side. 

He met the love of his life, Cheryel Lemley-Mitchell on October 11, 1996, and they were married on his birthday, May 17, 1997. He adored her, delighting in doing things to make her smile. They shared 27 happy years together. In their retirement Ron and Cheryel moved to Red River County. 

In his retirement he loved gardening and cooking, often watching cooking shows, and searching the web for new recipes to try out on Cheryel and her quilt group potlucks. He loved watching Jeopardy, old westerns, and cop shows. Everyone knew him as a kind man, always ready to help. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.

He is survived by his loving wife, Cheryel Lemley-McRoy, daughters by his first marriage, Colleen Hein (John), Angela Crist (Joel). And Gina Six (Jessie).  Bonus daughters from Cheryel, Laura Mitchell-Gonzalez (Barbara), Bethany McRoy (Marc Campbell). Grandchildren, Olive Gonzales, Tim McRoy, Andrew Wyatt, Jesse, Riley and Amber Poole,  Nate Hein (Marissa), and the other four Hein Boys. Great grandchildren, Rubye Lynn Hein, and Franklin Henry. And special grandson and buddy, Charlie Hall. And his cats, Cymbi and Seri.

Preceded in death by his parents, George and Rubye McRoy, and second wife, Helen Hunt McRoy. And his dogs, Thor, Gator, Alli Rose, Brandy and Petey.

Graveside services are Saturday, September 28, at 3 pm, at Woodland Cemetery, CR 2364, Bagwell, Texas. The Rev. Mark Hutchison, Powderly and Belk UMCs, officiating. Burial is under the direction of Clarksville Funeral Home. Dinner provided by the ladies of the Caring and Sharing Quilt Group of Woodland, and the ladies of Powderly and Belk UMC churches. Honorary Pall Bearers are the deputy constables of the precincts he served. 

Donations may be made to TEXSAR, Texas Search and Rescue, info@texsar.org in Ron’s name. 

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