Ronald Wayne Cummings

In his 80 years, Ronald Wayne Cummings was a son, brother, friend, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. However, one title might supersede them all; educator. Whether you knew him as, “Ron,” “Ronnie,” “Mr. Cummings,” "Coach," "Daddy", “Granddad,” "Fatdaddy" or  just "Ole Ron" he found a way to turn every interaction into a teachable moment. On Monday, March 15, 2021, Ronnie gave his final lesson – life is precious and must eventually end.

Ronnie was born on April 24, 1940, in Wellington, Texas. He went on to graduate from Quail Rural High School in 1958. After graduation, he continued his education at Clarendon College and West Texas College (later West Texas A&M University) until 1962 when he enlisted in the United States Navy. After an honorable discharge in 1965, he returned to the States and his studies before marrying Marie Macalea Beall in December of the same year. Ronnie received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education from West Texas College. Throughout the next few decades, Ronnie would work in numerous schools across the state before retiring as the principal of Paducah Independent Schools. In his career, Ronnie worked as a teacher, coach, volunteer UIL coach, principal and superintendent – impacting many students along the way.

While Ronnie placed a high value on education and his work as an educator, his greatest commitment was his family. Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, James Frederick and Willie Mona Cummings, and two siblings Billy Fred Cummings and Doris Cummings Nash. Ronnie is survived by his loving wife Marie Cummings; daughter Tanya Montgomery and husband Mat Montgomery of Memphis, TX, daughter Tina Brooks and husband Timmy of Roaring Springs, TX, son James Cummings of Taylor County, TX; his siblings, Kathy, Sharon, Travis, John, Gary and Bob; eight grandchildren, Jessica, Christian, Mattie, Paul, Victoria, Morgan, Myra and Valerie; his great-grandchildren, Tansley, Easton and Jackson (with another on the way, baby Tate).  

If Ronnie could leave you with any advice, it would be to always question the status quo, develop a passion for learning and that a healthy dose of sarcasm never hurts.

A celebration of life for Ronald Cummings is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 19, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church in Matador, Texas. A graveside memorial at the Roaring Springs Cemetery will immediately follow. The family asks in lieu of flowers, to donate to your favorite children's charity or the family suggets donations be sent to Carolyn Johnson Memorial Scholarship c/o First National Bank Box 540 Quitaque, TX  79255 or to Operation Brown Bag, a program that provides lunches to children at risk of going without food during their breaks from school including spring break, summer and for the last two school years during Covid.  Send donations to Operation Brown Bag c/o Tye PD Post Office Box 250, Tye, TX 79563, PayPal link https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZBWTTXJGN96EQ