Ronald Lloyd ""Ron Ummel

Ron grew up in Tremont, IL with his sister, Joy, and his parents. His hobbies ranged from playing football, basketball, and baseball to playing the saxophone as he grew up. It was during college that Ron met Susie Coleman, and they got married. They then moved to Texas after they graduated and started a family. They enjoyed playing tennis and bridge tournaments as a couple. Always the renaissance man, Ron could be found at the Baytown Nature Center which he helped found, while at the same time teaching and serving as a basketball coach and Athletic Director at Lee College, where he was called “Coach Ummel.” As a tall man, he was also quite a giant next to his favorite birds, the roseate spoonbill or the coastal pigeons, which he wrote about for many years with his birding associate, Dwayne Litteer, in a regular column for The Baytown Sun. To his family, Ron was also known as an avid poet and baker of his mom Willa’s famous dinner rolls and Swedish tea rings. Susie would initially call him “Mr. Church” in their early days together as they both supported the Methodist Church. At Grace United Methodist Church, often Ron would provide the children’s sermon, serve on committees and teach Sunday School. He also enjoyed parenting his three daughters Jill, Hali and Tiffany, and always encouraged them to grow in their faith and be a part of church as much as possible. Pursuing his spiritual studies was always important to him, and he developed a love for painting in his later years. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, and a strong Christian role model to all around him. He will be greatly missed by his family, loved ones and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Willa Ummel; grandparents, John and Ruth Mealiff and Carl and Sarah Ummel; and brother-in-law and close friend, Jerry Birky. He is survived by his wife, Susie Ummel; daughters and sons-in-law, Jill and Dwayne Huckaby, Hali and Buck Hollister, and Tiffany and Bill Gammel; grandchildren, Maddy Huckaby, Abby Huckaby, Jackson Hollister, J.W. Gammel, Cliff Gammel, and John Gammel; sister, Joy Birky; and nieces and nephews, extended loved ones, and friends.

His family will receive friends Friday, April 6, 2018, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with a funeral to follow at 12:00 p.m. at Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church, 2714 Ferry Rd., Baytown, TX 77520, with Rev. John Newsome officiating. Burial will follow in the church’s cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Dwayne Huckaby, Buck Hollister, Jackson Hollister, Bill Gammel, J.W. Gammel, Cliff Gammel, John Gammel, Dwayne Litteer and Lynn Walker.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cedar Bayou Grace United Methodist Church building fund.

To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.