Ronald R. Lilley

Ronald R. Lilley was born on October 20, 1935 to Clarence and Lona Lilley in Buffalo, MO. He went to be with the Lord peacefully in his home on September 8, 2020.

Ronald was preceded in death by his parents, and three sisters and brothers-in-law; Maxine (Earl) Nicodemus; Elizabeth (Buck) Booth; Genelle (Orvid) Spoering.

He is survived by his wife Pauline Lilley (Buffalo) and his children; Craig (Debbie) Lilley, Weldon Spring, MO; Rhonda (Rick) Wright, Buffalo, MO; Chad (Trudy) Lilley, Bon Aqua, TN; Robin (Ernie) Stewart, Oklahoma City, OK; Lajeana Lackey, Springfield, MO; Steven Lackey, Fayetteville, AR. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

In 1954 Ronald was married to Marilyn Harmon and to this union four children were born. In 1982 Ronald married Pauline Lackey in Fayetteville, AR.

Ronald grew up in the Buffalo area where he did what he loved best — farming. However, Ronald was called to the ministry in 1966 and began his pursuit of his calling. He started with his education by completing studies at Oklahoma Baptist University and then Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served the Lord for over 50 years serving churches in Missouri and Arkansas.

His first church was Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Edgerton, MO where he served from 1972 – 1977. He was then called to Macedonia Baptist Church in Springfield, MO where he served from 1977 – 1982. He moved to Arkansas and served at the Mountain Springs Baptist Church in Hindsville until 1987, and then Calvary Baptist in Fayetteville until 1993. He then retired and moved back to his farm in Buffalo.

He and Pauline loved to take long road trips across the country. The Lord was not done with him, though. He pastored Church Grove until they outgrew the building and built what is now Legacy Baptist Church (formerly Crossroads Baptist Church) on land donated by the Spoering family. He retired from the Church in 2013 due to health reasons. He is a member of Urbana First Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School class.

Ronald’s top priority was doing the Lord’s work either through preaching or teaching. His desire was to witness to everyone he touched and for them to know the Lord as their Savior. He performed countless baptisms, weddings, funerals, visitations, and counseling sessions. He performed many of his family’s wedding ceremonies and baptisms. He was a servant of the Lord and will be greatly missed; however, he is now with his heavenly father.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Legacy Baptist in his memory.