Ronald R. Shier

Ronald Robert Shier died peacefully at home November 14, 2025. He was 82 years old. Ron was born February 18, 1943, in Marlette, Michigan, the son of Robert "Don" Shier and Ethel Davies Shier.
A 1961 graduate of Marlette High School, he was later drafted into the United States Army. He served in the Signal Corps, where he was assigned as the company clerk while serving in Vietnam.
After an honorable discharge from the Army, Ron lived in Flint, Michigan, and earned a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan Flint. He then moved to Detroit to work, joining a local bowling league where he met Marilyn, the love of his life. If you asked him, he found her in an alley and rescued her from the gutter. If you asked her, she was his trophy, and he was her consolation prize.
Throughout his career, he worked in accounting for General Dynamics and Borman's before earning his MBA at the University of Detroit and going to work for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, where he worked until his retirement in 2011.
Ronald and Marilyn settled in Clawson, Michigan, raising their large family in a house with only one bathroom, ensuring all six children were skilled negotiators with impressive time management skills.
He enjoyed singing with the local SPEBSQSA barber shop chorus for many years (and left an attic full of ugly 70's-era tuxedos to prove it).
Ron was always there to support his family's endeavors. This included agreeing to run the YMCA youth soccer program for his sons (even though he knew nothing about soccer at the time), a decision that later led to him refereeing soccer at all levels for more than twenty-five years. This is also how he and Marilyn got suckered into running the concession stand at Clawson City Park for more than a decade.
Ron spent his retirement being an amazing grandfather, visiting classes, going on field trips, attending special events and concerts, and generally being supportive. He was a brat with a heart of gold, a quiet sense of humor, and the patience of a saint, and the best cheerleader a child or grandchild could ask for.
He is survived by his beloved children, Christopher (Lori) Shier, Vincent (Diane) Shier, Julie Shier, Lynne (Ryan) Lemley, Sarah (Steven) Johnson, and Gayle (Daniel) Kricke; his grandchildren, Heather, Baylor, and Briella Shier, and Gwendolyn Short. He was also the proud papa to Marianna, Josephine, Henrietta, Quentin, and Gideon Lemley, and Marissa and Mason Johnson, and loving brother to Katheryn Shier Pierce.
Ron was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Marilyn Villeneuve Shier, brothers-in-law Gilbert Pierce and Joseph Barretta, sisters-in-law Hildegarde Barretta and Elaine Werney, and niece Svetlana White.
Friends may visit at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 1368 N. Crooks Road, Clawson, Thursday, November 20, 2025, 3-8pm. The Funeral Service will take place at the funeral home the following day, November 21, at 11am. Friends may visit beginning at 10:30am. Committal services with military honors will follow at Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak.