Ronald Dean Messimer

Ronald Dean ?Ronnie' Messimer, 73, Johnson City, went home to Heaven Thursday, March 8, 2018, at Johnson City Medical Center. Ronnie was born on February 26, 1945, in DeWitt, Arkansas. His parents, he and his four brothers moved to Johnson City in May of 1948 and were surrounded by many friends within the nine-block area. He lived his life enjoying long time friends and making new friends. Ronnie attended Jonesborough High School, Kentucky Christian College, and received his BS degree from East Tennessee State University. Ronnie was a faithful member of Unicoi Christian Church, from age seven, where his father ministered for ten years while Ronnie was growing up. His father baptized him when he was ten years old. Ronnie continued to strive to live a Christian life throughout his life, and enjoyed teaching children, being youth leader, playing the piano and organ for many, many years, and serving as Deacon, Elder and Chairman of the Board. Ronnie also served as Music Minister with Hales Chapel Christian Church for three years. Always having a desire to help people, Ronnie was encouraged by the late Harold Cabus, formally Administrator of Appalachian Christian Village, to speak with Mr. Edgar Stohler, who owned colonial Hill Nursing Home. Mr. Stohler hired Ronnie to be an Administrator - in - Training in 1969. He became the youngest Nursing Home Administrator in Tennessee when he became the Administrator of McMinnville Tennessee Nursing Home. He returned to Johnson City and became the Administrator of Colonial Hill, later renamed NHC HealthCare Center for 42 years, serving from 1970 through 2012. The Administrator ? in ? Training program, initiated by National Health Care, was first begun at Colonial Hill and continued to train fourteen future Administrators, as well as working with many Administrative Interns from ETSU and Milligan College. Ronnie and Colonial Hill received the first highest honors from National HealthCare Corp: Administrator of the Year and Center of the Year. Also received other high honor awards many times through the years. At Ronnie?s encouragement, National HealthCare Corp. built the Colonial Hill Retirement Center, a great center and staff, also recognized for service and commitment to the community of individuals living there. He was also involved in developing the start of NHC Home Care. Next to serving Jesus Christ and marrying the love of his life, working with the staff, the patients and families, enabling him to serve others, was Ronnie?s greatest enjoyment and achievement. Ronnie?s best friend, Susie Sluder, became his loving wife on August 18, 1967, and they were each other?s favorite person and loved each other very much for 55 years. One of Ronnie and Susie?s favorite pleasures was traveling; and they were able to travel throughout the United States many times, including 13 trips on Amtrak around the country. Camping was a favorite pastime for both, even though each camping experience could end up with some type of calamity. In addition to his loving, Christian parents, Erby and Lorraine Messimer, Ronnie was preceded in death by: wonderful brother, Donald Ray ?Don' and lovely sister-in-law, Pat Messimer; very special father-in-law and mother-in-law, Walt and Maude Sluder; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Sluder Carey; brother-in-law, E.G. Carey; brother-in-law, Bud Sluder; sisters-in-law, Patsy and Sylvia Sluder; as well as 14 aunts and uncles, who he loved visiting and hearing their stories. Survivors include: brothers, Emil and his wife Joan, Wendell and Dr. James Erby and his wife Ann; sister-in-law, Pansy; nieces, Dr. Sheri Messimer Wingate and her husband Will, Jennifer Messimer James and her husband Christopher, Leisha Sluder Bennett and her husband Darrell, Gene Sluder and his wife Debbie, Connie Sluder, Tammy Sluder Fair and her husband Mike; nephews, Danny Ray and his wife Laura, Dr. Sam Messimer and his wife Lisa, James William and his wife Joy; several great and great ? great nieces and nephews; special relative, Dianne Jackson; and special friends Troy and Donna Gaddy, Connie and Rick Colbough, and Sherry and Dr. David Tysinger. The family would like to especially thank the 2300 floor at JCMC, as well as the food service staff, for their care and compassion. The family greatly appreciates everyone who has come to recently visit. The family of Ronnie Messimer will receive friends from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM Sunday, March 11, 2018, at Morris-Baker. The funeral service will be held at 2:30 pm Monday, March 12, 2018 at Unicoi Christian Church with Mr. Richard Kirkland, Dr. David Tysinger and Pastor Donnie Humphreys officiating. Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. The committal service will be held at 11:30 AM Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Family and friends are asked to meet there by 11:20 AM. Ronnie loved to see a woman in a hat, and it was his request, if you would like to honor him in this way, that the women in attendance of his services wear a hat.