Ronald Clarence McCurley

It is with heavy hearts that we report the passing of longtime Plumas County resident, Ronald Clarence McCurley (Ron), loving husband, brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 19, 2022, with family at his side. He was 80 years old.

Ron was born August, 1941, in San Francisco, California, to Clarence Finley McCurley and Francis Emma McCurley (Gifford). Ron grew up in Oakview, California, and graduated from Ventura High School in 1959. Ron then served four years in the United States Airforce and was stationed in Oxnard, California. While in the Air Force, Ron met the love of his life, Judith Nevada Plank (Judy). They were married in April, 1961. Ron applied for the California Highway Patrol and while waiting for an Academy date, he went to the Academy for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and served as a Deputy for a short time until he entered the Academy for the California Highway Patrol in Sacramento, California, on January 13, 1964. After the Academy, Ron was stationed in Ventura, California, where he served almost 8 years. During this time, Ron and Judy lived in Ojai, California, and they had three children: Brett McCurley, Matthew McCurley (Dianne) and Marilyn Hicks (Randall).

In 1971, Ron transferred to the California Highway Patrol office in Quincy, California, where he resided with his wife and children. In 1979, Ron transferred to the resident post in Portola, California, and moved his family to Portola, where he resided with Judy until his passing. He was an officer with the California Highway Patrol for over 33 years retiring in 1997.

After retirement, Ron and Judy traveled the United States for several years with their travel trailer and enjoyed the many sights this country has to offer. In 2002, Ron went to work at Plumas Ace Hardware in Portola where the community came to know and love him as a hardware man. He worked there both full and part time for nearly 20 years. Ron and Judy would normally take off from October through March to winter in Pismo Beach, California.

While in Quincy, Ron and family attended the First Baptist Church in East Quincy. Ron and family then attended the First Baptist Church in Portola, which would become Portola Station Baptist Church. In later years, he and Judy attended Sierra Christian Church in Beckwourth and Grace Bible Church in Arroyo Grande, California.

Ron was preceded in death by both of his parents and his brother Gary Wayne McCurley. Ron is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Judy; his sister, Kathleen Black (John); his three children, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, March 5, at 1 p.m. at Portola Station Baptist Church, 171 S. Gulling St., Portola, California.

In lieu of flowers, Ron’s family requests that donations in his name be made to Christian Encounter Ranch at 17183 Retrac Way, Grass Valley, CA 95949.