Ron McKinley didn't hesitate to give to his community

Stopping at Napa Auto Parts a couple weeks ago, Bob and I were discussing the passing of Ronnie McKinley. Bob shared in all his years, he never waited on a nicer customer.

Ron Schmitt was at the counter too and added his "two bits" saying in all his years he never heard Ronnie say anything bad about anyone. We all three agreed there was no nicer man in our community as we mourned his loss. You see Ron McKinley set the bar for kindness as a neighbor and a friend.

We live a mile from the McKinleys (near Amber Lake) and it is an incredible blessing. Ron gave my son, Shadrach, his first tractor ride of his life and dozens of tractor rides since then.

From adding springs to my wood truck to always loaning his tractor for tasks on our small farm, to faithfully delivering a Christmas present every year to always taking a few minutes to talk, all of us know there simply would not be enough space in this paper to share all the kindness Ronnie McKinley has passed along to all of us over the years.

In conclusion here is a true story that illustrates Ron's character. Several years ago I bought a couple pregnant ewes. We had never owned sheep before. My wife told me as sure as the sun rises in the east that the ewes would have their lambs when I was at school teaching. I hoped she was wrong but unfortunately, like most of the time, she was right.

They did have their lambs, middle of January, temperature well below freezing. Both ewes were in the barn.

Cathy was trying to get the one ewe to nurse her lamb, the mom wanted nothing to do with her baby. Infuriated and at her wits end, Cathy called me at school. Grasping at straws, I suggested calling Ron. Ron kindly obliged, though the only experience he had was with cattle.

In the barn, Ron and Cathy assessed the situation. They agreed Ron would walk into the second stall to see if he could get the mom to nurse the newborn. As Cathy opened the stall to let Ron in, the other pregnant ewe decided she wanted to be in there too. The pregnant ewe came up behind Cathy, rammed underneath Cathy's legs which caused her to push into Ron, who went careening across the stall and fell to the floor.

Cathy was "stuck" on the ewe, riding around the stall, trying to get off of her! After her eight-second ride, Cathy was able to get off the ewe and help Ron get up. After they replayed what had happened, Ron laughingly told Cathy that he thought she was so excited to see the ewe and lamb that she had pushed him out of the way.

They both got a good laugh out of the situation and have enjoyed retelling the story many times over the last eight years. This summarizes Ron's character. His kindness to drop what he was doing and come down and help. His great attitude after getting shoved to the floor of the barn and then being able to laugh about it. And his patience to work with Cathy to get that cute little lamb to finally nurse

If you look up the word kindness, there are no words, only a picture. It will show Ron McKinley on a tractor pulling a neighbor out of a ditch. Our community has lost a wonderful man. God bless him and the entire McKinley family!

Aaron Mason is a teacher at Cheney Middle School and a Cheney School District alumnus.