Herchel Ronald Gill

Miami--Herchel Ronald "Ronnie" Gill, 72, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, in Pampa. Vigil will be at 6:30 PM Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013, in Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel in Pampa. Mass will be at 2:00 PM, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church with Bishop Patrick Zurek of the Amarillo Diocese, Rev. Francisco Perez, pastor, and Rev. Christopher Schwind, associate pastor, as concelebrants. Burial will be in Miami Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa. Miami, Texas and surrounding areas are mourning the passing of Herchel Ronald Gill, a fourth generation cattle rancher and farmer who was one of the pillars of the Miami community. Ronnie was the great grandson of George W. and Mary A. Thorpe Gill, and of the Henry Palmer Chisums. He was the grandson of Harley and Tenney Talley, and Alonzo and Cordelia Gill, all pioneers who helped settle Roberts County and develop the area into the thriving agricultural community that it is today.Throughout his life, he served his family and community to the fullest. The son of Herchel and Eleanor Gill, Ronnie was born March 19, 1941 in Pampa. He graduated from Miami High School in 1959 and attended Texas Western College for one year. At the age of 19, he returned to Miami and took over the family ranch after the untimely death of his father. He fully accepted these responsibilities and for the next 50 years, he raised his brother and sister, four children, thousands of head of cattle and untold bushels of wheat and other crops. Throughout the time, Ronnie was the anchor for the Gill family, along with his wife of 52 years, Dee Gill. Within the Miami community, Ronnie was known for his service, generosity, and good-natured sense of humor. He was a Roberts County Commissioner for 20 years, and also served as a member of the Board of Directors, as well as Chairman of the Board, for the Miami First State Bank. On any given morning in Miami, Ronnie could be found having a cup of coffee and good conversation with his friends at the downtown cafe. Ronnie was also a devout member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, where he was a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, joined the Knights of Columbus, and served on various boards for the Amarillo Diocese. Ronnie's entire life revolved around Dee, who was his love, lifelong partner and best friend. They traveled the world together, survived the tragic loss of a child and grew in their faith and love for one another. Together, they raised four children, and have eight grandchildren: Beth Gill, a college professor at Randolph Macon College in Ashland, Virginia; Lora Christian, a pediatrician who lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband Paul and five children, Maura, Erin, Meredith, Anna and Daniel; John Herchel Gill, who preceded Ronnie in death and welcomed him home to heaven; and Mike Gill, an Assistant United States Attorney who lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife Patty and three children, Hannah, Avery and Patrick. Ronnie is also survived by his sister, Margot Thompson and her husband Dr. Paul Thompson of Bella Vista, Arkansas; his brother, Dr. Mike Gill and wife Vicki of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.Aside from his intense love for his family and his Lord, Ronnie will best be remembered as a Renaissance Man, who had an intense interest in the natural world and all of its wonders. He stayed on the cutting edge of technology, armed with the latest Apple products that he enjoyed using to keep pace with new discoveries, as well as family and friends across the United States. Ronnie was known as an honorable and humble man, who strove to always do the right thing and instilled those same values in his own children. Along with his insatiable appetite for knowledge, Ronnie had an eagle eye and was known for finding things that escaped others. Among his many discoveries, he found four meteorites, an amethyst arrow head, and, somehow, always found Indian treasures for his visiting grandchildren. Ronnie was also known as one of the best shots in the Texas Panhandle, who enjoyed hunting with his friends and won numerous local and state skeet and trap titles. Fly fishing was also one of his passions, and he loved his yearly fishing trips with his son, Mike, and his best friend, Doyle Smith. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, 810 W. 23rd St., Pampa, TX 79065 or a favorite charity.