Harold “Red” Ransonette, Jr., 77, aka “Jingles The Clown” of Beaumont, was born in Port Arthur on July 27, 1932, to Olga LeBlanc Ransonette and Harold Ransonette, Sr. and passed away September 27, 2009. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1951 and retired from Texaco, Inc. as a machinist after forty-two years.
He is preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Wayne Paul Ransonette.
Red is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Ruby Courville Ransonette, three daughters, Laurie Anderson, Terry Grillo and her husband Dan, and Bonnie Ransonette of Beaumont; one son, Stuart Ransonette and his wife Kim of Bella Vista, Arkansas; grandchildren, Cory Anderson and his wife Jamie, Elliott Grillo and his fiancé Maritza Davis, Alec Grillo and Katie Grillo of Beaumont, Sean Ransonette and Christian Ransonette of Bella Vista, Arkansas; and the joy of his life his 2 year old great granddaughter, Ava Anderson. He is also survived by his brother, Leonard Ransonette and his wife Lora of Houston; and many more relatives and too many friends to mention.
In the early 1950s and 1960s, Red joined the Red Cross Water Safety Corps and, along with Ruby, taught swimming and life saving in Port Arthur for over ten years.
He has been a well known entertainer in the area for fifty-five years beginning with variety shows in the 1950s with his dear friends Raymond Salazar and Tommy Allen. Eventually, everyone knew Red as his clown character “Jingles The Clown.” Beginning at the age of six, Stuart performed with his dad as “Dingles The Clown” for three years. His children and grandchildren were always proud to say “Jingles” was their father or grandfather.
He entertained at countless birthday parties, grand openings, charity events and company picnics across southeast Texas. He also appeared at shopping malls, especially Parkdale Mall in Beaumont, Central Mall and Jefferson City in Port Arthur.
Red’s favorite place to entertain was Hughen School in Port Arthur. He always said of the children, “Their little bodies may be limited, but not their minds and spirit.” In the 1950s and 1960s he began to teach swimming to the children there which enriched his life immensely. He also enjoyed making the children smile at the Shriners Burn Hospital in Galveston. He and his wife Ruby have traveled three times to Memphis, Tennessee to St. Jude Children’s Cancer Research Hospital to entertain the many children hospitalized there for medical treatment.
In the late 1960s, Red worked for McDonald’s on weekends traveling to five states as “Ronald McDonald,” a job he had for fifteen years. As “Ronald McDonald,” he also appeared in the Cotton Bowl Parade in Dallas and the Orange Bowl Parade in Florida.
Later, after his retirement from Texaco, he decided to stay home to be closer to his family and went back to being “Jingles The Clown” full time. Red has entertained all ages from 2 to 92. He felt privileged that God gave him the talent and joy in his heart to make people laugh and hopes he has made a difference by just being here.
Red’s words to live by:
“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “WOW WHAT A RIDE.”
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 30, 2009, at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church with a committal service to follow at Broussard’s Crematorium under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Pallbearers will be Cory Anderson, Elliott Grillo, Alec Grillo, Dan Grillo, Chris Monceaux and Derek Chapman. A Christian Vigil will be 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 29, 2009, at Broussard’s.
A very, very special “Thank You” goes out to Dr. Robert Birdwell, his nurses, Bonnie and Sloan and the employees at The Mamie McFadden Oncology Center and also to Dr. Keith Wied for his compassion and friendship to Red and Ruby. We would also especially like to thank the nurses on the 4th floor and in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Elizabeth Hospital for their loving care of our husband, father and grandfather.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Tribute Program, P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, Tennessee 38148.
