Ronald James Hay

Ronald James Hay, 64, passed away at home in Piltzville on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, of brain cancer. Ron was born in Missoula on May 17, 1949, to Clarence and Kay Hay. The family moved to Piltzville when Ron was 9. He attended Bonner Elementary School, and was actively involved in Scouting. He later graduated from Sentinel High School and Missoula Vo-Tech studying heavy equipment operation.

He married the love of his life, Sue Rhoads, on Feb. 7, 1968. Ron took a job with the Anaconda Co., later Champion International, as a Wagner operator, where he worked for more than 20 years. The couple made their life in Piltzville, adding two daughters to the family, Jamie and Jennifer. In 1990, Ron opened Pro Tool of Montana as a Mac Tool distributor throughout western Montana, making use of his great people skills. He made a switch and became a Lawson Products distributer in 2002 until his illness forced him to quit working in 2009.

Ron was involved in many volunteer and community activities, including the Missoula Rural Fire District as a volunteer firefighter, board member and EMT; he was also involved in Hellgate Lions Club.

His zest for life gave him many hobbies, including his great love of snowmobiling and four-wheeling to get to the top of the mountain; a project of some kind, such as remodeling houses or rebuilding cars; NASCAR; fishing; traveling with Sue by his side; hiking in the desert of Arizona or on Wild Horse Island; and boating with friends and family at their cabin on Flathead Lake.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Catherine Hay; brothers, Douglas and Steven Hay; sister, Barbara Bennetts; and niece, Theresa Rhoads. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sue Hay of Piltzville; daughters, Jamie Hay of Missoula and Jennifer Hay Guenthner (husband Jeremy) of Omaha, Neb.; grandchildren, Katherine Carey of Falls Church, Va., Stephen Connor Carey of Missoula, Preston and Peyton Guenthner of Omaha; wonderful in-laws, Jess and Nancy Rhoads of Missoula, Evelyn and Gordon Hollingshead and son Gene of Missoula; nieces, Bonnie Bennetts Moul and family of Santa Monica, Calif., and Stacey Bennetts and family of Seattle; and nephew, Eric Hay and family of Piltzville.

Memorial services are planned for Friday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. at Garden City Funeral Home with a reception to follow. The family suggests that donations in Ron's memory be made to Team Up Montana (funding for cancer patients), Attn: Mike Bullard, 500 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802.

On to the next great adventure, Captain Ron!

Read Ronald Hay's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.