Obituary of Ronnie Mae Roessel

The graveside services for Raymon Mae Roessel, (Ronnie), will be Monday, October 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the Marsing/Homedale Cemetery and will be officiated by Pastor Chuck Ryan, with the assistance of the Homedale Flahiff Funeral Home.

Ronnie was born November 12, 1928, in Laverne, Oklahoma to Perry Lucas and Ethel Lola Bell Preston.  She was 1 of 7 children raised during the Great Depression and during the 1930 Oklahoma Dust Bowl.  The family moved from Laverne to Thomas, Oklahoma, where she attended school.  Ronnie left home at the age of 12 to work for the town doctor  as a sitter for the doctor's children.

After graduating from Thomas High School, she married Wes Willhite also from Thomas, Oklahoma. The couple moved to the northwest United States, in order to find work.  For a bit, Ronnie was a stay-at-home mom, as her daughter, Yo, got older she took advantage of some training to become a hair dresser.  She eventually divorced  and moved to Shelton, Washington.  In 1959, she and her then husband, Edward White, partnered together to build a very successful beauty shop business.  It was there and at that time, they were able to adopt their son, Shane White.

Ronnie's work ethics, determination and drive to succeed provided the opportunity to own and operate her own beauty shop; which she did until the age of 80. She worked hard her entire life and provided for different members of her family.  She bought her mother a new house back in Oklahoma  Helped her children as best as she could. Every family reunion her family had lined up to have Aunt Ronnie cut their hair. She loved doing things for others that made them happy.  She worked in her shop until a lot of her patrons, who had really become dear friends, were no longer able to get to town to have their hair cut and styled.  She officially retired at the age of 80. Ronnie had made a very successful life as a wife, a mother and a business woman.

2009, health issues brought her to Homedale, Idaho, to live closer to her family.  Ronnie was a close next door neighbor to her daughter and her husband, Rich.  Ronnie lived in Homedale for about 7 years then in 2017, she moved to Lenity Family Living in Caldwell, Idaho.  She loved her home there and the people that cared for her.  They loved her like they would their own mother.  She made very special friendships with other  residents .  We ... they were saddened when she left us September 26.

Ronnie loved the ocean, her flowers and her occupation as a hair dresser AND was a hair dresser to the very end,, oftentimes reminding some of the staff, "that they needed to wear their hair up .... it was more becoming!"

She was proud of what she had accomplished but said very little to anyone...she was raised that "bragging was not acceptable."

She was thoughtful of others and loved many people .... her family in Oklahoma always carried in a warm spot in her heart.

She loved "pretty things", and blue skies, and friendly smiles.  She will be missed by all who knew her.

Ronnie is preceded in death by her parents, parent in laws, 4 brothers and 2 sisters and her late husband. She is survived by her 2 children, daughter Yo (Rich) Curtis of Homedale, Idaho, and her son, Shane White of Portland, Oregon, 3 grandchildren: Steen Marts, Homedale, Aaron (Jamie) Marts, Adrian, Oregon, Anjie (Ryan) Powell, Marsing, 3 great grandchildren; Kreece Paul Powell, Lettie Jo Powell and Shaney Mae Marts.  2 stepgrandchildren; Dally Curtis (Beth Chapman) San Tan Valley, Arizona, P.J. (Marne) Curtis Gooding  and 2 stepgreatgrandchildren; Rio Jay Curtis and Jace Patrick Curtis

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