RONALD "RONNY" BAXLEY

Ronald (Ronny) A. Baxley, 80, of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away peacefully in his home on August 26, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.  He was born September 24, 1943, to Roy A. and Bernice Kelly Baxley in Dothan, Alabama, and the family settled in Donalsonville, Georgia, when he was a young child.

Ronny graduated from Donalsonville's Seminole County High School in 1962.  He followed the love of his life, LaRue DuPriest, to Tallahassee, and in 1963, they married and spent the next 61 years together.

Ronny joined the Florida State University Police Department in 1965 and advanced through the ranks as Corporal in 1967, Sergeant in 1974, Lieutenant in 1975, and Associate Police Chief (Major) in 1985.  He attended the FBI Academy, U.S. Department of Justice, Quantico, Virginia, in 1993.  He was awarded Officer of the Year in 1968 and 1993.

Ronny retired in 2003 with 38 years of service to the Department, and for the next three years, he traveled with the FSU Football Team as security.  He also served as security for Champion Chevrolet.  In 2009, Ronny and LaRue moved back to Donalsonville to her family farm, where they spent the next nine years before ultimately settling back in Tallahassee.  While living in Donalsonville, he was on the security team for PeoplesSouth Bank.

In addition to his career as a police officer, he joined the Army Reserve 160th Military Police Battalion in 1965.  He advanced through the ranks as Specialist 4 in 1967, Sergeant in 1969, Staff Sergeant in 1971, Sergeant First Class in 1973, and First Sergeant in 1985.  In 1990, he was activated to Desert Storm in Saudi Arabi to serve his country.  He retired from the military in 1992 after 28 years of service.

Ronny had a huge heart, a compassionate spirit, and loved his family fiercely.  Everyone knew him as a kind, sweet soul, and a gentleman.  He was an avid golfer and enjoyed sports, especially FSU football.  He was a member of Thomasville Road Baptist Church and The Good Times Small Group in Tallahassee.

Ronny is survived by his wife, LaRue DuPriest Baxley; his beloved daughter, Melissa Baxley McClellan (Chad); brother Phillip Baxley (Alice); and several nieces and nephews.  He will be greatly missed by his sister-in-law, Sondra Langford and his brother-in-law, Sol DuPriest (Diane) as well as their children and grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters, Betty Baxley Hodges and Patricia Baxley Dancer.

Ronny's family offers heartfelt thanks to his personal caregivers, Ava Montalvo and Katrina Enzor, who became part of the family, and to Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee for their unwavering support.

Visitation will be held at Evans-Skipper Funeral Home in Donalsonville on September 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. ET.  A Memorial service is planned for September 6, at 11:00 a.m. ET at First Baptist Church in Donalsonville, where Ronny served as a deacon.  The family will receive friends one hour before the service.  Senior Pastor Michael Wingertsahn will be officiating, with Evans-Skipper Funeral Home handling arrangements.

Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to your favorite charity, Big Bend Hospice of Tallahassee, or First Baptist Church in Donalsonville.