Ronnie Price

Ronald Gene “Ronnie” Price was born on May 28, 1952, in Corinth, Mississippi, the son of the late Harris Gene “Tootsie” Price and Shirley Ruth (Whitaker) Price.

He was united in marriage on September 21, 1974, to Kay Stewart.

Ronnie was part of the first graduating class of McNairy Central High School in 1970, and he went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1974.

After a brief stint as a teacher at his Alma Mater, Ronnie was elected to the office of McNairy County Clerk in 1978. He lived out the saying - find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life. A public servant to the core, he faithfully helped his community with a meticulous integrity that kept him in office for the remainder of his days.

Even greater than the commitment he had to the job he loved was the commitment he had to his family. His steady patience, unmatched wisdom, and lighthearted humor will leave a gaping hole that can only be soothed by precious memories…

Memories of a man who loved the past: We answered his “trivial nonsense” questions, usually getting them wrong but learning something in the process. We heard him tell stories about people from long before our time, but we listened to them until we knew them by heart. We saw him point to a picture from around 1988, and we heard him say that’s how he would always see us.

Memories of a man who loved the present: He was always busy - at the office, in the yard, around the house. He loved to work, but he loved to play, too - cards of all sorts, horseshoes, infamous kickball games, and most recently cornhole (corn hog) tournaments on Sunday afternoons. He didn’t waste a minute.

Memories of a man who loved the future: The joy and pride he took in his grandchildren is evident in each of them. Double cheek kisses, nicknames that caught on quick, crawling around on the floor, pinchy bugs, piggies, and countless other things we’ll cherish forever.

He was the one who took care of us all without complaint. He was the one we looked to for guidance through his words and his example; the one who taught responsibility and independence but never failed to come to the rescue when we needed it.

His quiet faith and selfless humility was evident in everything he did. The fruits of the spirit - he bore them all. The First Corinthians descriptions of love - he fit them all. The wise teachings of Proverbs - he lived them all. No matter what the circumstance, he gave the credit to the Lord and those around him. He put everyone else above himself, and who he was in public was who he was at home. Loving, kind, serving, joking, strong, steady, safe.

We find it only fitting that such a lover of history and true patriot would gain his freedom from the bonds of Earth on July 4 - a date he quizzed his grandchildren about during our fireworks show the night before he left us. Which two founding fathers both died on Independence Day in 1826? The answer is Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, by the way. And now our family’s founding father, the humble giant, the wise legend, the one who can never be replaced, passed from our presence into the Lord’s on July 4, 2022.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 48 years, Kay Stewart Price, of Michie, Tennessee; daughters Valerie Hickman (Jimmy) of Selmer and Carole Kennedy (Chris) of Bethel Springs; son John Price (Amber) of Selmer, and grandchildren Allie Claire “Hughes” Hickman, Jasper “Papper” Hickman, Walker “Wally” Kennedy, Henry “Egg” Kennedy, Hazel “Honey Bee” Price, and Clara “Butter” Price; his beloved sister and brother Deb Flatt (Ed) and Roger Price (Connie), his friend who was as close as a brother Joe Presley (Pat), as well as his precious nieces and nephews and a host of cousins and lifelong friends.

Memorials may be made to Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, a Veteran's organization, or a charity of the donor's choice.