Ronald Kit Carson, 71

June 7, 1944 — May 22, 2016

Ron was born June 7, 1944, in Buffalo, N.Y., to Lorenzo Dow Carson and Rubye A. Barnett Carson where he spent the first couple of weeks of his life before the family moved to Georgia, then to Texas and onto California, moving ever westward.

In 1967, he met his future loving wife and lifelong partner, Belinda Alison Kimball, whom he was married to for 48 years.

“Kit,” as he was known by many of his shipmates, joined the U.S. Navy in November 1966 and spent the next 9 1/2 years in the service of his country. His job — to keep the Navy ships moving and under power. He was a part of the “black gang.” He served five Westpacks around Vietnam (also, around the Pueblo Incident) onboard three different ships: USS Yorktown CV-lO, the USS Hopewell DD 681 and the USS Constellation CV64. Ron was honorably discharged in December 1972 with the rank of E-S, Second Class BT. He also served three years in the Idaho National Guard. Ron came from a military family with his dad serving in the Merchant Marines and both brothers in the Navy (one in Seabees).

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, L.D. and Rubye; and brother David. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Belinda; daughters Jessica, Theresa, Patricia (Sean) and Samantha; and sons Daniel and Dean (Beth). Also, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He, also, left behind his sister, Nancye (Rocky) and brother Chuck; along with multiple aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

Ron had a marvelous sense of humor and a great love for all he met. He was a man who could pull off a stunt (be a “brides-man of honor” in a friends wedding) and not look ridiculous. He always said that “if people were laughing at him, they were leaving others alone.” And he was a man who loved his Lord above all else. He was a motorcyclist enthusiast and rode his ’79 Honda Goldwing until he couldn’t ride. Loved hanging out at Lawrence’s Motorcycles with a cup of coffee, shooting the bull with all who came in. He belonged to the ABATE of N.I. Kootenai Chapter, the AMA and was a constant guest at the Panhandle Peace Riders (CMA) group.

God, family, camping and motorcycles, those were his loves and passions. He did not let ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) defeat him even though his body finally gave up. Jesus called him home and gave him a new body that has no pain — one that LIVES instead of one that dies. Even though we don’t have him in our presence and our sorrow can sometimes overwhelm us, let us rejoice in the knowledge that he is “Home” in his Savior’s arms. And we will join him when Jesus calls us home, too.

There will be a celebration of life at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, 2016, at North Country Chapel in Post Falls on Seltice and McGuire, with food and fellowship afterward. Please come and share your memories of Ron. We would love to hear your stories. He will be interred at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, Wash., earlier in the day.

I love you, Ron, and always will…