Source: http://www.sunsetmesafuneraldirectors.com/obituaries/Ronald-Carlson/#!/Obituary

Mr. Ronald John Carlson
June 15, 1944 - September 14, 2012

Montrose resident, Ron Carlson, passed away suddenly, September 14, 2012 while traveling in Illinois. He was 68 years old.

Ronald John Carlson was born on June 15, 1944 in Santa Monica, California, to parents, John Henning and Naomi Lorine (Deeter) Carlson. He was raised in Southern California and grew to adulthood. As an only child, Ron spent many extended periods visiting his maternal grandmother and cousins. They visited such places as Disneyland's opening summer. Ron graduated from South Gate High School in 1962. Following high school, he attended college at the University of California Berkeley and completed his degree in Business at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri.

While working in St. Louis, Ron met his wife-to-be, Cathy Beth Hiette while the two attended a company banquet for First National Bank. The couple was soon engaged and married the same year on December 17, 1966. To their union was born a daughter, Julie in 1971. The family moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in November of 1972 where Ron worked at Colorado State University, first in the Computer Department, then the Administrator of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. While living in Fort Collins, Ron committed his life to Christ and was baptized at Poudre Valley Christian Church on March 18, 1973. Colorado brought Ron close to the mountains but also closer to God. In 1975, Ron and Cathy were blessed with a son, Eric. In the fall of 1978, the family moved to Durango, Colorado where Ron worked at the Durango Public School District. The family relocated to Montrose in December of 1980 where Ron worked at Colorado Ute. After the demise of Ute, Ron took a job at Western Fuels at the New Horizon Mine in November of 1995 as their Business Manager. After a successful career as an accountant, Ron retired in January of 2007. In March of 2010, Ron and Cathy moved back home to Montrose. Ron and Cathy were recently traveling in Illinois near Cathy's hometown, when Ron became ill and tragically passed away in Springfield.

Ron's life was filled with a love of reading and continuous passion to learn. He was a generous, kind, Christian gentleman who was polite and appreciative of the people he loved. No matter where the family lived, Ron was active in the church and eager to do God's work. Ron loved the ocean, diving, surfing and even making his own surfboards in his younger years. His hobbies included being a Charter member of the San Juan Model Railroad Club with the membership number, 1, researching and reading on the internet and spending time with his family. Ron is loved by many and will be sorely missed.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Cathy Carlson of the family home in Montrose, Colorado; daughter, Julie Hale and husband, Rick of Montrose, Colorado; son, Eric Carlson of Washington, Pennsylvania; two grand children, Maggie and Thomas Hale of Montrose, Colorado.

A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, September 22, 2012 at Christ's Church of the Valley in Montrose, Colorado at 2 P.M.. Interment will follow at Cedar Creek Cemetery in Montrose, Colorado.

The family welcomes flowers and memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child Program (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/) or Christ's Church of the Valley, 10 Hillcrest Plaza Way, Montrose, Colorado 81401.

Visit the tribute website, sign the online register and send condolences to Ron's family at www.SunsetMesaFuneralDirectors.com.

Arrangements are being handled under the direction and care of Sunset Mesa Funeral Directors (970) 240-9870.