October 18, 2013

Funeral for Ronald Coleman Bryant, 85, was Sun., Oct. 20, at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. David Lowery and Clyde Ledlow.

Burial was in Herring Cemetery.

Mr. Bryant died Fri., Oct. 18, 2013. He was born Nov. 2, 1927, in Cullman County to Amy Luker and Rutherford Earl Bryant. Mr. Bryant joined the Alabama National Guard at the age of 20, and fought in the Korean War with the 1343rd Engineering Battalion. After being released from the Guard, he worked for Robertson’s Furniture Store for about one year. He worked as a machinist at the Fedders (Worthington) plant in Decatur for 18 years. After Fedders closed, he was employed in construction work as a millwright for five years. One year after suffering a serious work-related accident, he bought a store on Austinville Road and named it Bryant’s Grocery and Gas. He ran it for 15 years. He called himself a peddler, bought products and peddled them to area stores. He decided that playing eight to fourteen hours of golf per day was his true calling. Therefore, he quit full time peddling to free up his day for full time golf. He was preceded in death by his parents; and first-born daughter Marilyn.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Jerry Morris Bryant; two sons, Andy Bryant and wife Lorie and Vincent C. Bryant and wife Terry; six grandchildren, Camellia Bryant, Ronald C. Bryant and wife Kahla “Karla”, Nicholas Bryant, Natalie Bryant and Naomi Bryant; and one grandchild, Paxton Bryant Gibbs.

Pallbearers were Ricky Cochran, George Hartselle, Chase O’Brien, Stanley Penn, Kim Reeves and Cape Sandlin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, to whom we are forever grateful for his care.