Ronnie Joe Stearns

Wilson- Home going services for Mr. Ronnie Joe Stearns, 77, of Wilson are scheduled for 2:00 PM Tuesday April 4, 2023, at the Ash Street Church of Christ with Larry Jackson and Jeff Jones officiating. Interment will follow at Hewitt Cemetery. Services are under the care and direction of Alexander Gray Funeral Home of Wilson.

Ronnie Joe was born May 7, 1945 at Dillard to the late Mr. Sidney Lee Stearns and Mrs. Katie Myrtle (Hill) Stearns. He went to his heavenly home on Thursday March 30, 2023, at Marietta.

Ronnie Joe was a native to this area residing at Wilson his entire life. He attended all of his school years at Wilson and was known as Bear playing football. His running buddies during those days were Jack Brown and Danny Steele. His first steady employment was working for Garth Smith south of Wilson before gaining employment at the County Barn. This led to a career working for ODOT, where he was employed for 27 years retiring as the supervisor of the Ardmore/ I-35 division.

Ronnie Joe married the former Mary Rector, and they were blessed with two beautiful children, Ronnie, Jr. and Katherine. Later in life he married the former Dottie (Ammons) Whatley on August 3, 1991, at their home in Wilson. This union blended two families, gaining Dottie’s two children, Jennifer and Bradley. He and Dottie loved their lives together residing in Wilson always cherishing moments with all their children and grandchildren.

Ronnie Joe was always an avid outdoorsman. He loved coon-hunting in his earlier years with his buddies Donnie Taylor,  Ronnie Roberts and Marvin Ellis. He never lacked discovering the best fishing holes of this area. He loved fishing, especially when he travelled to Camp Simpson with his son Ronnie, Jr. Ronnie Joe was a man of a strong faith and moral virtues and worshipped for many years as a member of the Ash Street Church of Christ.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brother, Floyd; sisters, Ruby Jean Cannon, Geraldean Stearns, Pauline Shores, Billie Sue Lowery and Saundra Ladon Fanning; brothers, Sidney Wayne Stearns and Kenneth Ray Stearns and a granddaughter, Jessica Miller.

Survivors include his beloved wife Dottie of the home; sons, Ronnie Stearns and wife Amanda, Brad Whatley, both of Wilson; daughters, Katherine Stearns of Ardmore and Jennifer Stearns and husband Jeff of Wilson; brothers, Glenn Earl Stearns and wife Loretta of Oklahoma City and Larry Don Stearns and wife Linda of Wilson; grandchildren, Joey Stearns and wife Skylee, Payton Barrick and husband Trent, Hunter Chay Stearns, Michael Whatley, Daniel Whatley, Cody Welch and Ridley Stearns; 8 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and other family.

Casket bearers will be Ronnie Stearns, Jr., Brad Whatley, Hunter Chay Stearns, Greg Whatley, Bobby Stubbs, Brad Newton, Joey Stearns, Michael Whatley and Daniel Whatley.

Honorary Bearers are Donnie Taylor, Gary Gregg, Harold Sanders, Jeff Stearns, Ronnie Roberts, Alvin Dorsey, Lewis Eades, Gary Mashore, Johnny Sullivan, Ronnie Butler, Jack Brown, David Shores, Dierk Smith and Marvin Ellis.

Family visitation will be held from 6 to 8 pm Monday evening at Alexander Gray Funeral Home of Wilson.

Condolences may be shared online at www.alexandergrayfh.com