Ronnie Joe Sims Sr.

We honor and celebrate the remarkable life of Ronnie Joe Sims Sr., a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, veteran, and friend whose legacy of strength, love, and unwavering devotion will live on in every life he touched.

Ronnie was born on July 6, 1950, in Dallas, Texas, to Cletus Sims and Norma Ivey, and was raised in DeSoto, where his roots of loyalty, kindness, and grit were planted early. He was the younger brother to Allen Sims, and when Allen was drafted into the Vietnam War, Ronnie—true to the selfless spirit that would define his life—volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army when he came of age. He served with pride and courage, first in Vietnam, carrying the weight of war with quiet strength.

During this time, Ronnie became a father to two children, Stephen and Christine. His love for them would never waver, but it was in West Germany, after the war, where fate introduced him to his soulmate, Mila Macaya—a feisty Filipino nurse with a heart as big as her spirit. They met at a party, where Ronnie famously declared that he had fallen in love the moment she tried to hit him with a seatbelt for trying to get fresh. That spark ignited a lifelong love story. Six months later, in February of 1973, they were married. Together, they built a beautiful, unbreakable life. They welcomed their daughter, Melanie Jean Sims (Boothe), while still abroad. In time, they returned to the U.S. and planted roots in Lancaster, Texas—a home they would share for over 42 years. In 1980, their son, Ronnie Joe Sims Jr., was born, completing the family that Ronnie loved more fiercely than anything else in this world.

Ronnie was a man who worked hard and loved harder. He made his living as a carpet layer and cleaner, but his career culminated in a position of deep responsibility and honor: Sergeant at Hutchins State Jail in Dallas, Texas. But beyond his title or uniform, Ronnie’s truest calling was being the rock of his family, the one who never wavered, who always showed up, who made everyone feel safe. His moral compass was simple and profound: family first—always. He lived for his wife and children, and when he became a grandfather, he found new joy in spoiling his grandchildren: Victoria, Gabriella, Ronnie Joe III, and Winston. Whether it was taking them on little outings, sneaking them snacks and treats, or simply being a warm, dependable presence, they knew they were deeply loved.

He had a playful spirit and a generous heart. He spoiled Mila to the point where, even now, she still doesn’t know how to pump gas—and that’s just how he wanted it. He fought for every dinner receipt like a badge of honor, just like his dad before him. Ronnie gave selflessly, fiercely, and without hesitation. He didn’t just love—he fought for his family, protected them, and made sure they always knew their worth.

Ronnie leaves behind a family who will never stop loving him: his beloved wife of 52 years, Mila Sims; his children Christine, Stephen, Melanie and Craig Boothe, and Ronnie and Maranda Sims; his treasured grandchildren Victoria and Nick Nooteboom, Gabriella and Jase Pena, Ronnie Joe Sims III, and Winston Sims; his great-grandson Karter, and his soon-to-arrive great-grandson Easton. He is reunited in heaven with his parents, Cletus and Norma Sims, and his beloved great-grandson, Landon.

Ronnie Joe Sims Sr. was more than a man—he was a protector, a provider, a romantic, a warrior, and the heartbeat of his family. He leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured, a love that cannot be replaced, and memories that will live in our hearts forever. We will miss his laugh, his strength, his bear hugs, and the way he always had our backs. He gave his all, so we never had to go without. And though the world feels dimmer without him, we know his love surrounds us still, in every sunrise, in every memory, and in every act of kindness we carry forward in his name.

Rest peacefully, Ronnie. Your work here is done. You were deeply loved, and you will be forever missed.