Ron Tankersley Memorial

I've read every single post, watched every video, received so many touching PM's and calls, cried so many tears and my heart is so full with the outpouring of love for Ron Tankersley. He often thought when in times of despair that no one cared, you saw the posts and experienced the rants, and I once said to him "Ron, when you die the outpouring of love will be immense. You will be missed." I was right (hear that Ron, once again I was right..."yes dear"). I've contemplated on whether or not to post details but since Ron was an open book (and we often learned more than we wanted) and many are wondering about what happened, here's what I know. While it is still to be determined, and may not be determined, I feel certain his death was not purposeful. I too thought it may have been a possibility, having walked beside him while he was in the "darkness" (as he called it) for more than twenty years. On 20 Nov Ron was watching TV, doing laundry, eating dinner, and making plans for a weekend with friends. And then he was gone. While he suffered from bi-polar depression and other ailments, he was in a good place, albeit in physical pain. He had hope...a new job, a new place to live, a new video adventure. This news brought me great comfort and I hope it does you as well.

It was Ron's wish to be cremated with ashes released in places of importance to him, and the rest made in to a living reef, as such, in communication with his father, there will be no funeral. But, he also wanted a kick-ass party to celebrate his life, not mourn it, so I will do my best to deliver.

For your planning purposes, while I know the timing is not ideal with the holidays, but since I will already be in town, it will be Friday 12/27 from 5:30 - 9:30 at the VFW Hall in Pasadena on Bayside Beach Road just up the street from our old house. Max capacity is about 150 but I envision it to be open house style. More details to follow.

My intention is to plan a sendoff worthy of his life and legacy but how? And then I thought WWRD (What Would Ron do)? He would post a lengthy note on FB and ask for help (and I suck at that). So, gulp, I need your help dear friends! I need picture collages, Ron videos from the hay day and onward (and someone to pull them all together for our viewing pleasure), friends willing to speak and share their Ron stories (while he laughs from above desperately wanting to interject and fill in blanks with his story telling flair), speaker with microphone, music from his favorite set lists, a computer whiz to leverage the wifi so his dad can dial in, setup/clean up assistance, and the hardest ask...in lieu of flowers or gifts to his favorite dog charity, donations. As Ron was not a man of financial means, and other unmentionable drama, this is my final loving gift -- our loving gift -- and your kindness and support is needed to make this YUGE. A go fund me will be established with his birth date in dollars so any contribution you can make -- $1, $5, $10...whatever (certainly no expectations to get to his birth date), will mean the world and help me to deliver a promise to honor and recognize a man who gave us laughter, love, musical chills, political admiration, political rage, and a whole host of other emotions. I thank you and I know he would, too.