Ronald Ray Dawes, 78, was called home to Heaven on September 28, 2026, at 10:25 p.m. He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by the people who loved him dearly his wife, Belita Dawes; granddaughter, Mackensey Newman; grandson, Hunter Shanks; and great-grandson, Dewayne Shanks.

Ronald was born on August 14, 1948, in Yale, Oklahoma. He lived a life full of hard work, determination, independence, and love for his family. He was a one-of-a-kind man who knew how to do just about anything and was never afraid to learn something new. He spent his life working with his hands, creating things, fixing things, and leaving a little piece of himself in everything he touched.

Ronald had a special love for breaking horses. He loved the challenge, the patience it took, and the bond that came from working with them. He also loved going to the sales around town, where he could spend time looking at things, visiting with people, and doing what he enjoyed. He was happiest when he was busy and had something to work on.

One of his proudest accomplishments was owning his own saddle shop, Ron’s, where he worked alongside his son, Shane Dawes. That shop was a reflection of who Ronald was hardworking, talented, independent, and always willing to learn. He accomplished so much throughout his life, but perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the family and memories he leaves behind.

To know Ronald was to know someone who could be stubborn, determined, hardworking, and independent but those same qualities made him the man he was. He did things his own way, and he never stopped being curious about the world around him. He had a way of making memories in the simplest moments, and those are the moments his family will hold onto most.

For his granddaughter, Mackensey, the last year spent caring for him was a gift she will carry with her for the rest of her life. Being able to spend so much time with him, care for him, and be there for him was an honor that can never truly be put into words. The time they shared will forever be some of the most precious memories of her life.

Ronald also held a very special place in the heart of his great-grandson, Dewayne. The bond they shared was something truly special. Ronald wasn’t just his great-grandpa he was his little buddy, someone whose presence became part of his childhood and whose memory will be carried with him as he grows. His family will make sure Dewayne always knows exactly who his great-grandpa was and how deeply he was loved.

Ronald is survived by his beloved wife, Belita Dawes; his kids Shane Dawes; Danielle Turner, Nicole Heinrichs, Stacie Rhodes, Jonie Olmstead, Carol Boykin, and James Allen Shanks, along with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many other family members and loved ones who will forever miss him.

There are no words big enough to describe the emptiness left behind when someone you love is gone. The house may feel quieter, the days may feel different, and there will be countless moments when his family wishes they could hear his voice, see his face, or have just one more conversation with him.

But Ronald’s story does not end here.

It lives on in the people he loved, in the things he taught them, in the work of his hands, in the stories they will tell, and in every memory they will carry forward. His hands may no longer be here to build and create, but everything he built including the love within his family will remain.

Ronald, you were loved more than words could ever say. Thank you for every lesson, every memory, every laugh, every story, and every moment. We weren’t ready to say goodbye, and we never could have been. Until we meet again in Heaven, please know that you will forever be missed, forever loved, and never, ever forgotten.

Rest peacefully, Ron. Heaven gained a very special man, and our family gained an angel watching over us. ❤️

There are no services planned at this time.