Ronald “Ronnie” Glen Colston, 64, of Fannett, died Monday, December 16, 2013.

A strong, simple man who didn’t need anything fancy is an accurate description of Ronnie. He lived and loved life and those around him to the fullest. He was a caring son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

He was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana in 1949 and graduated from Beaumont High School in 1967. Ronnie was a member of the FFA and was in the Lamar Rodeo Club. He was also a member of the Louisiana Rodeo Association. Ronnie enjoyed competing in rodeos, breaking horses, working cows, hunting, and fishing.

When Ronnie was 18, he met the love of his life, Debbie, and married in 1969. They were married forty-four years.

Three things he loved most in this world were his daughters, Dawn, Missy, and Hope. He was so proud of his three beautiful girls. Ronnie instilled in them the ideals of pride and family. And he could always be heard telling them to “keep your shoulders back”, “put a smile on that face”, “and “keep your head up”.

Something that put a smile on Ronnie’s face was spending time with his five grandsons, Dakoda, Cameron, Ethan, Evan, and Dwight. One could always find them hunting, fishing, or just hanging out with Paw. They loved him as much as he did them. They were Paw’s biggest fan and partners in crime. He was their “Hero”.

Spending time with family and friends was also important to Ronnie. He loved to cook and wanted everyone to eat. In the evenings, you could find him sitting at the barn, waiting for company to stop by and visit, have a cold one with him, and listen to music. Ronnie loved all types of music, as long as it was loud! He especially loved gospel music and loved to sing it, too!

Ronnie was not a church going man; but if you knew him, you knew he had “God” in his heart. He prayed daily and always said a blessing before his meals.

As the Alan Jackson song says, “And he bowed his head to Jesus, and he stood for Uncle Sam, and he only loved one woman, (He) was always proud of what he had. He said his greatest contribution is the ones you leave behind, raised on the way and gentle kindness of a small Southern Man.”

Ronnie was a true Small Town Southern Man.”

He is survived by his wife, Debbie Gilmore Colston of Fannett; daughters, Dawn Guidry and her husband, Quintin; Missy Viator and her husband, Eric; and Hope Standley, all of Fannett; mother, Dora Mae Colston of Cheek; sister, Lynda France and her husband, Forrest, of Richardson; brothers, Donnie Colston and his wife, Paula, of China and Terry Colston and his wife, Kathy, of Katy; and grandchildren, Dakoda Guidry, Cameron Guidry, Ethan Viator, Evan Viator , and Dwight Standley.

A gathering of Mr. Colston’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 18, 2013, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 19, 2013, at Sẽvenne Hall at Broussard Farm, 10714 East Clubb Road, Fannett, with interment to follow at Broussard Cemetery, Hamshire.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hamshire-Fannett High School, Future Farmers of America, P. O. Box 233, Hamshire, Texas 77622.