Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Ronald William Dever passed away surrounded by his wife and daughter in the early morning hours of Sept. 18, 2021.
Ron is survived by his father, Donald Paul Dever; wife, Karen Rutka Dever; daughter, Julianna Leila (Jason) Jongeward; granddaughter, Leila-Faye; sister-in-law, Lynn Dever; nephew Bryan (Erin) Dever and family; and niece, Christen (PJ) Lockler and family.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Arline Leila Canzone Dever, and brother, James Paul Dever.
Ron was born Dec. 27, 1957, in Torrance, Calif., and moved to Edmonds with his family at age 2. He went to Ballinger Elementary School, Madrona Middle School, and graduated from Edmonds High School in 1976, where he played basketball and football.
Following his father, he worked at Van de Kamp's Bakery, but chose underground construction as his career, working for Gary Merlino Construction Company until his retirement.
Ron and Karen met in June of 1995, introduced by mutual family friends. It was love at first sight, and they were married in March 1996. They spent 25½ wonderful years together.
Ron worked hard and played hard. He enjoyed spending his weekends with his wife and daughter on Lopez Island, where they went crabbing, fishing, shrimping, and spending time with friends. He loved a great beach fire, and he was an expert agate finder.
On his evenings and weekends at home, he grew a beautiful vegetable garden and enormous sunflowers. He always had the ball game on, and had about five projects he was working on. Ron typically arrived home before his wife, and made elaborate, unique, and delicious dinners for his family.
In 2012, Ron retired at age 54. His wife Karen retired one year later, and they began a wonderful new adventure. Ron and Karen became snowbirds, spending their winters in Yuma, Ariz., with family and friends. They enjoyed hiking, golfing, dances, and even a little scorpion hunting. Ron joined a golf league and became quite good.
During the spring and summer months of retirement, they lived in their home on Lopez Island. Ron made several home improvements, and built a new garden that he was proud to show off and share with others. He spent many hours on the beach at low tide with his granddaughter, poking clams, digging for crab bait, and wading in the salt water.
He and Karen joined the Lopez Island Golf Club, and he enjoyed golfing with his neighbors and friends. He loved his life on Lopez.
Shortly before his daughter's wedding in 2020, Ron was diagnosed with stage four liver cancer. He did not let that stop him from living his life. After walking Juli down the aisle, Ron and Karen returned to Yuma and spent another winter in the sunshine with their many friends there.
He began to decline and spent some time in the hospital, but recovered and continued to fight. They returned to Lopez in the spring of 2021 and spent as much time on the island as they could.
In early August 2021, Ron and Karen returned to Edmonds and stayed in his childhood home to be closer to doctors and medical care. Ron's hospital stays became more frequent and longer. His daughter and her family visited on weekends, and he even made a trip to the zoo.
After another decline and hospital stay, they learned that his cancer had spread, and decided to end treatment and let nature take its course. One week later, he passed peacefully in his home with his wife and daughter by his side.
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