Ronald Orville Yelle

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ronald Orville Yelle on July 19, 2025, at the age of 90. Ron was born March 28th, 1935, in Everett WA. He graduated in 1953 from Everett High School where he also met the love of his life, Donna Yelle, and was married in 1955. Dad always worked hard and provided for his family. To him, work was not a burden but a source of pride and accomplishment that took effort and purpose. He always had a job, starting as a young teenager delivering newspapers and then working in his father's basement shop making veneer patches for the lumber mill. He learned early on from his father how to operate and machine both wood and metal parts. In his high school machining class, as a sophomore, he assisted the class instructor with training students on technical and proper usage of the equipment. He was able to save and buy his first car at 16 yrs old; a 1941 Ford Coup, which he fixed up and painted himself. He loved that car and shared many stories with us. Dad's first major purchase was not a house, but a piece of lakefront property on Lake Roesiger in 1957. His parents weren't exactly happy with that $2,300 decision. But he believed this would be a great long-term investment; a gathering place for family, friends and good times. He was right. He cleared and built a cabin that our family spent every summer living at, hosting generational family gatherings, 4th of July parties, and creating lifelong happy memories. He was a machinist by trade. He started his career as an apprentice at Pacific Car & Foundry, later seeking new opportunities to gain further experience, including leadership opportunities, to further his career. In the evening, he also taught blueprint reading & machine shop math at Everett Community College as it was important to him to advocate and support students who were interested in pursuing a career as a machinist. He was also in the Navy reserves for eight years and was a machinist mate in the engine room. During a routine training deployment on the USS Hanna, his mechanical abilities and skill were recognized for outstanding performance in repairing a major mechanical problem, restoring the freshwater system for the entire ship. He took the skills he had acquired and his entrepreneurial dreams and started his own company, Royell Mfg Inc in 1972, manufacturing precision machined parts and assemblies for the commercial and aerospace markets. He was resilient, passionate, fair and humble in all his business dealings. He loved the factory environment and machine technology. From designing work holding fixtures, tooling and automation solutions, to the production machining of complex parts. To take a design and make something tangible inspired and drove him. He retired in 2001. After retirement, our parents enjoyed years of traveling the open road in their motorhome, heading South for warmer weather and reconnecting with fellow travelers & friends each year. The dog, cat and the parrot, were all part of the traveling entourage too! He was also a member of the Knights Of Columbus and later, St Vincent De Paul volunteering his time and helping with their food bank. Dad always said his children were his greatest joy, who we all relied on for mentoring, wisdom, friendship and support. He was a kind and gentle soul, much loved and respected. He will be missed dearly by his family and all that knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents Orville and Martha Yelle, his granddaughter Margaret Yelle, and his beloved wife Donna, who he missed dearly. Ron leaves behind his children & spouses Chris & Renee, Vada & Dale, Jamie & Serena, John & Neila, grandchildren Josh, Allison, Jessica, Amanda, Jonea, Sarah, Leila, Katie, 10 great-grandchildren and his brother Gary Yelle, sister Carol Huffman, and brother-in-law Peter Newland. A private service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery on August 7th. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Our Lady of Hope Church https://ladyofhopechurch.org/directed-giving or St Vincent De Paul North Sound Council.

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God saw you getting weary.

He did what He thought best.

He put his arms around you

and said, "Come and rest."

He opened up His golden gates

on that heartbreaking day,

And with His arms around you,

you gently slipped away.

It broke our hearts to lose you.

You did not go alone.

A part of us went with you,

the day God called you home.