Ronald Stephen Mize's Obituary
Ronald Stephen Mize, age 69, of Fayetteville went home to his Lord and Savior on Wednesday March 30, 2022, in Springdale, Arkansas. He was born April 7, 1952 in Garfield Heights, Ohio. He was the son of Steve (deceased) and Josephine Ann Machaevich Mize (deceased.)
Ron lived his early life in Garfield Heights, Ohio. As an active parishioner of the St. Monica Parish, he was an Alter Boy for the first mass in the new church in 1964. Ron also belonged to a Boy Scout Troop and loved to race in the Pine Box Derby. Ron attended Chanel High School and was involved in Drama Club and was in West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, and Fiddler on the Roof. He graduated from Chanel in 1970. During those years, he also worked part-time at Lamrites Floral and Craft Supply in Bedford, Ohio, beginning his long career in retail and retail management. In the summers, his family would travel on their boat, Summer Love, on Lake Erie. This began Ron’s love of the water and boating. He would take the helm and charter the excursions for the family and boating friends. Ron went on to attend Ohio University. He was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity and he graduated with a degree in Psychology. After graduation from OU, Ron started a long career in retail management working and living all over the country including New York, Florida and finally settling in Arkansas to be near his daughter and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife and soulmate, Joni Stewart McKinnon Mize. They loved each other’s humor and goofiness, sense of adventure and love of travel. They were secretly married on Miami Beach September 3, 2017, and then set sail on a honeymoon cruise that ran into Hurricane Irma! After surviving an 11-hour Florida Turnpike evacuation, they retired together and spent their time crossing the country on a series of adventures. Ron loved the beach and the water, wonders of nature, ocean cruises and visiting historical sites. Some of his favorite adventures were visiting the 911 Memorials and the Museum, climbing all the way up into the crown of the Statue of Liberty, seeing Ford’s Theatre, touring The White House and Capitol Building, white water rafting in Tennessee, flying a Motorcycle Kite all over the Florida beaches and water, playing with a dolphin in Cozumel and staying in a yurt in the Shenandoah Valley. He loved the Bikes Blues and BBQ annual event in Fayetteville and all the motorcycles, music, and people-watching.
Joni introduced Ron to her love of the Razorbacks, and he became a super fan! He loved watching baseball games from the rowdy Hog Pen and attending Arkansas Basketball and Football games. He will still be rooting for his Razorbacks from Heaven! He probably will sneak into the Hog Pen and watch with us!
He is also survived by his sister, Cheryl and husband Ken Konczos and his nephew Stephen Hruby. Having Ron as a big brother always meant that Cheryl got to tag along—from going to play practices to going for a “ride” in the back of his old station wagon. Ron took Cheryl to her very first concert of James Gang and Shanana at OU for Sisters’ Weekend beginning her love of live music. Growing up there were always fun summer nights of dingy racing or sneaking into Cedar Point during the family vacation. As they got older, fun was for vacations. Traveling to Montreal, Florida, Georgia, or Arkansas always meant a good time. Traveling to Cleveland with Ron entertaining Stephen with his “Morty invisible man voice” or visiting Put-in-Bay, Cedar Point, Indians Games, a country concert, and even getting on TV during Cheryl and Ken's wedding, the times together were always full of laughs. They stuck together in the good and the bad. They enjoyed quiet nights of old rock and roll Led Zepplin music with a beer or two.
He is survived by his daughter, Rachel Lynn Freeman and his grandchildren Lauren Delnuovo and Alex Webb. When Ron lived in Florida he enjoyed when Rachel came to visit. They traveled to many different places and had mini vacations there. But, most of all, he enjoyed scuba diving with her in Key Largo or drift diving off Boynton Beach. Moving to Arkansas meant more time with the grandkids and Rachel. He took many road trips with them, whether it was to Cleveland or Georgia; they had fun road trips with singing and laughter. His favorite thing about moving to Arkansas was the summer days in the pool with Rachel and the grandkids. In the pool with the grandkids, he enjoyed racing them from one end to the other, lying on rafts, cannonball splash contests, and standing on the diving board with them on his shoulders and letting them jump off into the pool. He also enjoyed weekends and summers when the grandkids would come spend nights with him. Weekends and summer nights were spent having cookouts, playing games, talking, watching tv, and laughing. He was there to help Rachel through the good times and bad times offering advice, showing support, or just giving a much-needed dad hug.
He is also survived by his son, Nick Mize, wife Kelly, her mother Jill, and grandsons Aiden and Jack. Dad loved spending time on the water. Nick’s favorite memories include snorkeling together and staying on his boat for a week, traveling through the Florida Keys and stopping at a few of the islands to do some hanging out, grabbing a beer, and grilling. He instilled in Nick a love of classic rock and an appreciation for those relaxing moments. Aiden and Jack loved Grandpa Ron and how silly and fun he was, playing together in the pool and riding around on his shoulders.
Nick always admired how cool and laid back his dad was. He never got too worked up about anything and just went with the flow. We would all be better off if we took a page out of his playbook, but only some can pull off the Hawaiian shirt!
Ron is also survived by Joni’s family whom he loved as well. The family getting together at the house, traveling, concerts, Razorback games and watch parties and shenanigans always ended up being part of the plan! They are Jenna Mayes, Jodie Mayes and husband Abdul Portillo, Jamie Mayes Cooper, her husband Borum Cooper and grandson Borum Cooper, Jr.
With his huge heart, Ron loved animals and he is survived by the puppy love of his life, Cookie, and grand-dogs Peanut, Beast, and Sofia. Ron was the puppy magnet and was always covered with several dogs on his lap and shoulders!
A private committal for family and close friends will be held at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Saturday, April 9th. A Celebration of Life will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Mojitos in Fayetteville. Please join us to share memories, stories and raise a glass to Ronald Stephen Mize. Feel free to wear Razorback gear to honor Ron’s love of the Razorbacks. There might be some hog calling! The family would also like to thank the medical staff and the prayer warriors that supported Ron and our family during his journey home.
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