Ronald Lee Searls

| February 14, 2018

Ronald Lee Searls, 67, of Brookville, PA, passed away on Monday, February 12, 2018, as a patient of Penn Highlands DuBois Hospital.

Ron was born on November 28, 1950, in Cortland, NY, to the late Donald James and Beverly Jane (Ellis) Searls.

Ron was married on September 28, 1985, in Stanton, PA, to Deborah (Yeager) Searls; Debbie survives him.

Ron attended school in Cortland, NY. He was known as a dedicated and reliable hard-working man. For over 22 years, he worked as an over-the-road Truck Driver for Van Zuiden Trucking and Smith Trucking of Albany, IL. Later, he started another career operating heavy machinery, which he worked for almost 20 years. He first held positions with Cahokia Marine Service, loading and unloading steel, lead, and zinc products off the Mississippi River. He then worked for American Commercial Lines Transportation loading and unloading barges; this time the product was coal; those jobs were near the metro St. Louis, Missouri area.

Ron was a member and past Treasurer of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) local in St. Louis. He was also a past member of the River Bend Riders – Chapter of Gold Wing. In Brookville, he would be well known as a Volunteer Fireman with the Brookville Volunteer Fire Company, holding the rank of Fire Police Captain. He was one of only a few people certified to drive the Tower Truck. He had the pleasure of driving Santa into town for a Light Up Brookville Celebration.

“Ron was not just a wonderful friend, but a gentleman who cared about people,” a friend said after learning of his passing, with many people agreeing. Ron didn’t think his hard work ethic and dedicated nature was anything special, to him, it’s just the way people should be. He had a big and caring heart that was easily observed through the works he performed in the service of others. He was a great friend, and his closest friends all rode Gold Wing Motorcycles together. They rode coast to coast through 43 states creating life-long bonds and memories.

His absence is heavily felt by all who knew him, and the memory of him will be cherished for a long time to come.

In addition to his wife Debbie, Ron is survived by one daughter, Amy Jean Yeager of Maryville, IL; one brother, Danny (Cheryl) Searls of Groton, NY; his mother-in-law, Betty L. Yeager of Brookville, PA; four brothers-in-law, Carl Yeager of Brookville, PA, Larry (Cathy Lee) Yeager of Belleville, IL, Delvin (Cathy) Yeager of Lithia Springs, GA, and Roger Davis of McGraw, NY; one sister-in-law, Dottie Searls of Cortland, NY; his best friends, Joe and Cindy Miller of Caseyville, IL, and Kathy Yurgec of Freeburg, IL; his nieces and nephews, Michael (Patti) Searls of Nashville, TN, Theresa (Troy) Beckwith of Cortland, NY, Karen (Adam) Cornell of Dryden, NY, Brian (Lisa) Davis of McGraw, NY, Crystal Edwards of Groton, NY, D.J. Searls of Groton, NY, Matthew (Kristen) Yeager of Knox, PA, and William Yeager of Des Moines, IA; several great-nieces and nephews; and his beloved puppy Skipper.

In addition to his parents, Ron is preceded in death by his brother James L. Searls; his sister, Debbie Searls Davis; his father-in-law, William L. Yeager; and one of his best friends, Donald Yurgec.

Family and friends will be received on Thursday, February 15, 2018, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the McKinney – d’Argy Funeral Home, ltd, 345 Main St., Brookville, PA. A funeral service will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018, also at the funeral home, beginning at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Chaplain Kevin Bockus. Interment will take place at Worthville Cemetery, Ringgold Township, Jefferson County, PA.

Memorial contributions in Ron’s name are encouraged to be sent to the Brookville Volunteer Fire Company, 240 Madison Ave, Brookville, PA, 15825.

Online condolences and other information may be found at www.mckinneydargy.com.


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Category: Obituaries