Ronald Bayless

02/07/1934 - 04/08/2010

BAYLESS, Ronald Neil February 7, 1934 - April 8, 2010 A loving father, grandfather and great grandfather, Ron passed away while awaiting surgery after suffering a heart attack recently. A kind, humorous and gentle man, Ron loved the game of golf, playing his home course, Timber Creek Golf Course, many times a week. Ron was born to Pauline and Dolf Bayless in Hawthorn, CA. His father died when Ron was three months old and he was raised by his mother and step father, Edward Averill. After graduating from high school, Ron joined the Navy at age 17. In the Navy he learned aircraft electronics and served two tours of duty during the Korean War, one on the aircraft carrier USS Princeton and one on the USS Yorktown. During the second tour, Ron fell ill to tuberculosis and was hospitalized for two years, eventually having 1/2 a lung removed at the San Fernando Veterans Hospital. Shortly after this surgery he persuaded a lovely nurse, Joyce Glaeser, to go out with him on his first leave away from the hospital. She took a gamble and said yes; after all he did have the New Yorker magazine delivered to his room on a regular basis. Little did she know, Ron was mainly interested in the magazine for its comics, not the articles. Love quickly blossomed for these two and they married four days after his discharge from the hospital on June 23, 1956. Ron and Joyce had two children, Laura and Bob. The four of them moved to Spokane, WA in 1971 where Ron became a successful real estate broker. Ron retired in 1997 and he and Joyce moved to the warmer climate of Roseville, CA where he could play golf year round. Joyce passed away with Ron by her side in March 2007 after 50 years of marriage. Ron is survived by his daughter Laura and her three daughters, Diana, Yenny and Luz; and his son Bob, his daughter Tanea and her husband, Reginald Blacke and their four month old daughter, Lenaya. He also leaves behind his buddy, a Scottie named Spike. Ron was blessed to find love again and developed a close and happy relationship with Sue Birilli and the two of them became engaged this past February. Ron and Sue shared many memorable experiences during their 2 1/2 years together, including a 14 day cruise to Hawaii in February. Ron's kindness, generosity, wit, culinary skills and sense of humor will be missed by everyone who knew him. A memorial service will be held at 11AM on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at Pleasant Grove Community Church, 1730 Pleasant Grove Blvd, Roseville, CA 95747.