BENTON -- The morning of March 18, 2014, Ronald Neal Somers closed his eyes and went to join his heavenly Father. Ron was born July 27, 1937, in Miner's Hospital to Clarence and Alene Somers. His parents preceded him in death. On April 19, 1959, Ron and Sherry Fowler were united in marriage in North Benton Baptist Church. They shared 54 wonderful years together and had planned to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary next month. During those years together they were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Rhonda Marchelle and Kimberly Jo. Ron was a member of North Benton Baptist Church where he was saved as a young boy and shared his love of God with all those who knew him. He served six years in the Illinois National Guard with the West Frankfort Unit. After more than 20 years working in the mines, Ron retired from Freeman United Coal Mining Company and began a new career in the maintenance department at Rend Lake College where he retired in 2002 after 15 years. He was a member of the UMWA and served on the Village of Ewing Board for more than 20 years and for the last several years served as a board member for the Ewing-Ina Water Commission. Ron loved working in his workshop, and doing remodeling projects on their house with Sherry. His most enjoyable moments were when he was with his family and listening to their laughter while telling stories about their many vacations they took together to Disney and Gatlinburg, their camping and boating adventures, and what the girls did that Mom and Dad didn't know about during their teenage years. Ron also looked forward to getting together with his friends and talking about the good-old days when they played army at the forestry and hanging out at the Capitol Theater. Many of Ron's special friends nick-named him "General Meatball" during his grade school days and a number of those friends still called him "Meatball." All these special memories he took with him to Heaven. Ron is survived by his wife, Sherry; daughters, Rhonda Hartman of Carbondale, and Kimberly (Taylor) Teel of Mulkeytown; grandchildren, Brianna Teel, Shawn Teel (Amber), Lindsay (Oguz) Hartman Unver, and Michael (Mallory) Hartman; great-grandson, Seth Unver; sister, Janise Niederbrock of Virgina; brother-in-law, Danny (Diann) Fowler of Mount Vernon; niece, Stephanie (Jonathan) Leftwich of Birmingham, Ala.; and nephew Shane Fowler of Jasper, Ala.; and four very special pets whom he loved dearly, Lucy, Max-a-million (pugs), Wiggles and Biddy (cats). He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, George and Louise Fowler; sister-in-law, Marcella Fowler; brother-in-law, David Niederbrock; nephew, Mark Niederbrock and daughter, Emma; and niece Lynette Niederbrock. As per Ron's wishes he will be cremated under the direction of Morton and Johnston Funeral Home and there will be no visitation. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 21, in Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, with Pastor Burton Wills officiating. Those wishing to attend are requested to meet at the cemetery. Memorials may be made in memory of Ron to Southern Illinois Hospice or your local non-kill animal shelters. The family wishes to thank all those who remembered Ron in their prayers during his lengthy illness, all the wonderful nurses in same-day surgery at Heartland Medical Center, the radiologist and the nurses who assisted during the paracentesis each week, the nurses in ICU. They would also like to thank doctors, Dr. Latta, Dr. Coello, Dr. Chen, Dr. Chong, Dr. Mawansa and Dr. Yu; the great staff at Davita Dialysis Center in Benton and Marion, for the excellent care they provided to Ron the many years while dealing with failing kidneys and liver. Published in The Southern Illinoisan on Mar. 20, 2014