Ronald Dwane Johns

Ronald Dwane Johns, 64, of New York City, N.Y., passed away Oct. 6, 2008, in New York City after an eight-year battle with cancer.

Ron was born Sept. 5, 1944, in Clinton, Okla., to Doyle D. Johns and Sylvia (Hileman) Johns. His mother preceded him in death in March, 1995. Ron graduated from Nevada High School in 1962. He worked for Davidson Shoes in Nevadas a C.O.E. student while in high school and after graduation. He then began a career in insurance and finance which included work with State Farm Insurance, CIT Financial, Shelter Financial, Prudential Mortgage, and American Mortgage before becoming an independent mortgage broker. These jobs took him and his family to Springfield, Booneville, and Sedalia, Mo.; Topeka and Fort Scott; St. Joseph and Joplin; Fayetteville, Ark., Lexington, Ky., and Boca Raton, Fla., before his final move to New York City.

Ron married Clara Bailey, in Richland, Mo., in 1965. They had two children, Dana (Johns) White, of Diamond, Mo., and Christopher Johns, of Lakewood, Calif.

He married Daisy Gaston, of New York City, in April 1996, and together they enjoyed travels that included France, Italy, Philippines, Thailand, Greece, China, and Mexico. Daisy Johns, of New York City/Philippines survives of the home.

Other survivors include: his father and stepmother, Doyle and Norma Johns, of Nevada; his sister and brother-in-law: Donna and Charles Thomas, in Nevada; son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Shae Johns, of Lakewood Calif.; daughter: Dana White of Diamond, Mo.; granddaughters, Arden White, Hadli White, and Karastin Johns and various aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Graveside committal services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, at Marvin Chapel Cemetery, in Nevada, with the Rev. Hubert Fox of the First Baptist Church and Father Justin from St. Mary's Catholic Church officiating. The family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society or Marvin Chapel Cemetery Association in lieu of flowers.