Ronald Summers
Ronald L. Summers, age 78, of 1917 Melview Rd, Quincy, IL died on December 25, 2016 in his home. He was born on September 27, 1938 in Quincy, IL the son of John & Dorothy (Curry) Summers. He married Carolyn Martin on June 13, 1964 in Nebo, IL. She survives. Ron worked as a teacher and coach for Liberty High School for 33 years. He also spent 30 years working with the Quincy Park District overseeing youth baseball and the concessions among many other things. Ron was a 44 year member of Madison Park Christian Church. He was also a member of the Benjamin Masonic Lodge in Camp Point, IL. Ron’s loves were spending time with his family and grandchildren and wintering in Destin, FL.
In addition to his wife, Ron is also survived by:
TWO CHILDREN: Marti Gambill and her husband William of Winfield, IL and Mark Summers and his wife Amy of Westfield, IN.
FIVE GRANDCHILDREN: Andrew and Brendon Gambill and Hannah, Hope and Griffin Summers.
Numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 10:00 Am at Madison Park Christian Church. Interment in Greenmount Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at Madison Park Christian Church. A Masonic Service will be held at 7:00 PM at the church. Memorials may be made to Madison Park Christian Church. The Duker & Haugh Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
He was everybody’s favorite teacher and coach. It didn’t matter if I was a good athlete or not, he always encouraged me. I always wanted to do well in the meets if for no other reason than to make him proud of me. He always made us laugh, and he risked his life on a daily basis. All he had was an emergency brake in that drivers ed car, that took courage! I always wondered if he remembered us. I know this, we never forgot you coach. Thanks
Great memories of a great teacher! Our deepest sympathies.
So very sorry for your loss. What a great guy. So many good memories of Ron working for the Park district. He would brighten up everyone’s day with his energy and sense of humor. Rest In Peace Ron
Mark, Amy and Family, My deepest sympathies for your loss. As Mark and I have spoken many times about Ron, I would have to thank him for giving me first job as umpire when I was 14 years old. Ron allowed a baseball geek to be around the sport and get paid (I was already showing up at the park anyway to watch), and it taught me perseverance (I had call him several times to ask for the job), responsibility (I rode my 10-speed to his house on Melview to deliver the daily H-W game write-ups), people skills (instant feedback for every bad call), contributed to developing an accurate throwing arm (by catching my throws from centerfield to home) and without him hiring me, I may never have met my wife (Karen kept stats for her dad’s team). He encouraged me every step of the way, and may have even bought me a few extra greasy Maid-Rites for lunch. Thanks Ron, for being in my life.
Sorry for your loss, he was a great teacher with a great personality who could always make learning interesting
Ron was such an inspriation to me and my children. He taught them the meaning of having a job and working very hard to get ahead in life. He was so fun and we all loved him so much. Such a great man and beautiful smile. He will be missed so much. Love to you Carolyn and your family. Thoughts and prayers. Joan
Condolences to the entire Summers Family. Ron was a great guy who was fun to be around when I was as a kid and a great mentor to lots of kids and people. He was always a Great guy! Sorry for your loss!
Carolyn…..I am so sorry to hear of Ron’s passing. I send my condolences to you and your family. Ron was truly a larger than life icon. Ron was a man with a heart of gold, and willing to share it with everyone around him. Ron will be greatly missed by everyone he has touched.
Best regards,
Dan Hysler
Springfield, IL
My condolences to the family on a loss of a legend. He was such a great teacher at LHS. He always put a smile on my face and everyone else’s. I will never forget him and health/driver’s Ed class. Loved that brake on the passenger side drivers Ed car and when he would yell “stop!” Rest in peace my friend. Thoughts and prayers to the family.
My condolences to every one of Ron’s family and friends. I knew him from Sunday school but I really got to spend some time with him volunteering at Horizons.
I was so happy to have Ron as my drivers Ed teacher and a health teacher. He was funny and we all usually had a great time in our classes with Ron. He will be dearly missed by his family. But we who had the chance to be students under his care we were truely blessed. So sorry for his passing and for his family’s loss.
Carolyn and Family We want you to know that we’re thinking of you with deepest sympathy. Love Tom & Janet
So sorry for your loss Carolyn. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless
My thoughts and prayers are with the Summers Family. Great teacher. Better person. Mr. Summers made a huge difference in the lives of so many young people for so many years. And it doesn’t get any better than that. He taught more than just health, drivers education, etc. He taught life. And he taught it well. Ron Summers made you happier, more confident, and simply a better person. We were all blessed.
What memories I have of Ron! I was so saddened to hear of his death, but couldn’t help but smile at some stories that came to mind. I am reminded of an appropriate quote: Don’t cry because his life is over, smile because it happened.
Rip. Mr. Summers.. you were by far one the best teachers I have ever know. .. you will be missed. My heart goes out to the entire family..Many prayers.
So sorry to hear of Ron’s passing. So glad I got to see you both in Mt. Sterling this fall. He was a wonderful role model for all around him with his great spirit and laughter. Prayers to the family.
Thinking of you Carolyn! Prayers for you and your family.
Thoughts and prayers to the family. Mr. Summers was the best teacher I ever had. May he rest in peace.
Carolyn, my condolences to you and family on your loss. Ron was a stellar person, an education icon at LHS and always the life of any gathering. Blessings and peace, ss
We called him Mr., Coach, Ron and mostly a great friend. We have wonderful memories as our teacher and coach. He was a teacher and coach for my parents, and all our brothers and sisters. He will always be remembered as one of Liberty’s favorite teachers. Just thinking of him makes us smile. Prayers and blessings to Carolyn and family…. Joe and Dawn Ormond
Ron was a great guy we had alot of fun with him in Liberty High school, learned alot from him, so sorry for your lose.
To Coach Summer’s Family: I student taught under Ron and I could not have worked with a better role model for being a teacher/coach! I had a great student teaching experience at Liberty HS and Ron was a huge part of that. My admiration and respect for him is great. As a now retired coach and teacher of 40+years, Coach Simmers got me pointed in the right direction. My sincere condolences to all his family and friends.serie
Dear Carolyn and Summers Family, Thinking of you and remembering Ron. As ever, Dick & Pat Wentura
Sorry to hear this.Mr summers I have thought about you sir for several years and I do regret not being able to stay in touch. There are a lot of memories from my senior year at Liberty High School that you are a part of and many of those have made me a better person just knowing you and what you had taught me, thank you sir for all you have done for me and my fellow students you will not be forgotten. I send my condolences to your family.
My sympathies to Mr. Summers’ family from a former student. He was a nice guy and a great teacher. I’ll always remember his great sense of humor.
Dear Carolyn and family.
We honor Ron’s outstanding career as a teacher and leader of young people as we express our sadness at his passing Best wishes and God’s Blessings.
Carolyn and Family,
My heart goes out to you guys during this difficult time. Coach Summers meant a great deal to myself and my family while I was growing up. He was always a positive influence for me from a personal standpoint as well as athletically. The experiences that we shared during my track career at Liberty High School helped define me and ready me for a successful college career in academics and athletics at the division 1 level. I will never forget that weekend in May 1994 when we both finished our high school careers as champions! Coach Summers set a great example for everyone that he had the chance to influence over the years and I can honestly say that he helped mold me into the man I am today. Thank you Coach and thank you Carolyn for sharing him with us for so many years.
Joe Knuffman
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Thinking of you at this time. Lifting prayers up for you and your family.
Carolyn and Family – I am sorry for your loss – I wish you peace