Ronald Habernal's Obituary
On August 21, 2025, our beloved Ronald “Ron” Lee Habernal transitioned to heaven. Ron accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at an early age. Ron and Teresa were married at Second Baptist Church in Richmond, Missouri, where he joined and was baptized. After relocating to Liberty, Missouri, they became members in good standing at Pleasant Valley Church. Around 2022 Teresa moved her membership back to Second Baptist.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Phillip, and numerous cousins.
For 42 years, Ron and Teresa (or “Doc” as he called her) shared a loving marital and friendship bond.
As the loving father of their daughters, Tiffany and Ashley, Ron’s calm demeanor helped bridge the gap between the biological parents and himself. Never one to like traditional titles, he was known to his grandchildren as “Mr. Ron”. KiAndre, Ava and Kameron, who he cheered at sporting events, offered encouragement, fished and gave advice when needed, were the prides of his life.
A gift of Christmas, Ron was born December 25, 1946, to Alfreda Tweedy and Lester R. Habernal. He grew up in the Kansas City area and spent many summers with his paternal grandparents in Fairfield/Warsaw, Missouri area, where he developed his love for fishing. Anytime he could he’d travel to his Cousin Sterling’s cabin in Warsaw, at times being accompanied by John, his brother and Ava, in hopes of catching a catfish or crappie.
Ron’s bond with his brother, John, and soon-to-be sister-in-law, Kathryn Douglas, ran deep.
Ron graduated from St. Pius X High School in 1964 and enlisted in the United States Navy a year later, serving as a Russian Linguist for four years. Returning to Kansas City, he worked for various retail grocery chains for 22 years while furthering his education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley. Ron’s final career changes were employment with the State of Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations as a State Auditor, retiring in 2012 and Data Taker with Titan Tech in 2023. In 2024 Ron began serving as an Election Judge in Clay County.
Ron was a “no frills” person. Jeans and t-shirts were his usual attire. He was particularly fond of his Josh Turner, Willie Nelson and Jim the Wonder Dog t-shirts – although he’d wear pretty much any t-shirt with a business logo on it. He didn’t care much for “plain” ones. He was not a happy camper when he woke up after being in ICU for 3 days (in Dec 2023) due to a heart event and found out that the paramedics had cut off his new Willie Nelson t-shirt to administer life-saving CPR measures fully. Although he was grateful to them and for being alive, he would occasionally mention how he missed that shirt, even after his wife purchased him another one, albeit not the exact same one.
Ron was kind, friendly, and could strike up/hold a conversation with a total stranger. He befriended people in our neighborhood, at the local grocery stores and on his various jobs. With neighbors, he shared Veteran stories, shoveled driveways, increased his knowledge of flowers, and closed garage doors when the neighbor would drive away leaving theirs open.
Although he was not a Chief’s fan, Ron thoroughly enjoyed needling his family and friends by rooting for whatever team the Chiefs were playing. Of all such friends, there was none he enjoyed harassing more than Theresa (his wife’s childhood friend). He couldn’t wait to text her whenever the Chiefs lost and she’d do the same when they’d win. Playing Wordle with past coworkers, Marqueritte and Rhonda and watching Jeopardy while texting John about the answers, clues or contestants, were his daily highlights.
He enjoyed watching reruns of Barney Miller, Gunsmoke, Storage Wars and ID or tuning into the music channel to listen to some of his favorite recording artists such as Toni Braxton, Karen Carpenter, Josh turner, Willie Nelson and Randy Travis. He would not sing aloud but he was very much a hummer, especially when he thought no one was listening. One of his favorite pastimes was visiting the K C Zoo on the free passes that arrived in the mail (he was ever frugal). He always made a point to visit the gorillas. He enjoyed watching them play and interact with each other. He even knew their names.
Ron will be deeply missed by his wife, Teresa, of the home; two daughters, Tiffany Davis and Ashley Habernal; three grandchildren, KiAndre Pugh, Ava Hodges, Kameron Gillespie; one brother, John Habernal, (soon-to-be) sister-in-law Kathryn Douglas and a host of cousins and friends.
Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Graveside services will be held Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 11:30 AM at Sappington African American Cemetery in Nelson, Missouri, with Military Honors.
What’s your fondest memory of Ronald?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ronald?
Share a story where Ronald's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ronald you’ll never forget.
How did Ronald make you smile?
