Ronnie Dean Hood

Husband, Dad, Brother, Uncle, Aunt Ronnie, Papa, Big Ron

Ronnie Dean Hood was born on June 17, 1954 in Shawnee, OK to Thurman J. Hugh & Gladys Lucille Hood of McLoud, OK. Ronnie grew up in McLoud and married his best friend, Mary Rooks, on August 26, 1976. Ron and Mary raised their three children in McLoud and were active in the community until he left us on February 10, 2022.

Ron is preceded in death by his mother and father, sister Rosalie Davis, and three brothers Thurman Hood, James Hood, and Billy Hood.

Ron left behind his loving wife Mary Hood; his two daughters Stacie Hood and Tracie Roberts; his son Ronnie Hood II; and two grandchildren that he adored, Bryce Cowns and Izabella Roberts. He also left behind a brother, Phillip Hood, and many close friends that he considered family.

Ron loved playing softball, and even earned some personal awards. He stopped playing as much once Stacie started playing (He also coached Tracie and Ronnie throughout the years as well). He always said he wanted his team to do as he said, not as he did. He loved being on the field and coaching (yelling!). He was so proud of the teams he took to the state tournaments, including a youth co-ed team from McLoud that won the state tournament 3 years in a row! He also took his girls' teams to the USSSA World Softball Tournaments. He coached many that went on to become All-Staters, All-District, All-City, and collegiate athletes!

He left no trash can, fence, or bucket unkicked; no guess as to where you went wrong on the softball or baseball field, wrestling mat, football field, or basketball court (or to be honest with anything!). He got upset because he KNEW your potential & pushed everyone for more. He was so proud of everyone's accomplishments on the field and off.

If you were lucky or unlucky enough to have him as a teacher...I'm sorry? You're welcome? Could go both ways! But, he LOVED you all! He beamed from ear-to-ear learning about former students' accomplishments, and how his classroom had prepared them for their future endeavors.

In all seriousness, as much pride as he had in his kids and Mary, they had the same in him. Some might not know that he quit school at the age of 15 to start working in the construction industry after his mother passed away; but, in his 30s decided to pursue his college education with the help of our mom (lots of proofreading). Ron worked in the McLoud school district as a janitor and bus driver while attaining his degree and went on to become a Math teacher and softball coach. He ended his 20-year teaching career at McLoud in 2014. Ron was a great example to his family, friends, and students.

Ron always loved making people laugh, most often at their expense.

He was always so sympathetic! If any of his kids were hurt, they always got, "I've had worse scratches on my eyeball."

Teaching life lessons, manual (child) labor, he would often tell his kids while working on projects around the house, rental properties, or farm, "If you don't like what I'm making you do, go to college." … soooo all three kids are college graduates.

Famous quotes: "Second place? You mean first loser?" "If I need steak sauce, I don't want the steak." "Buy a ticket, if you're just gonna watch the game!" "That's what I like, a woman with a lot of class."

In the years after retiring, he loved to piddle around the farm, visit with friends, spend time with his wife, and watch his grandkids grow. The "Texaco" now has a vacancy at the gossip bench. (For those that don't know, that's where parents find out EVERYTHING! The beauty shops have nothing on those benches!)

He's now reunited with so many that he loved, and you can bet he has taken up a spot at the domino table!