Cover photo for Ronnie William Bryant's Obituary
Ronnie William Bryant Profile Photo
1951 Ronnie 2021

Ronnie William Bryant

March 12, 1951 — February 24, 2021

Ronnie William Bryant, 69, of Beaumont, Texas left this worldly place in the early morning hours of February 24, 2021. He made it to heaven just in time for a good breakfast of biscuits and eggs all prepared by his wonderful mother, Margaret Matthews. Ronnie was born in Orange, Texas to Margaret and William “Bill” Wesley Bryant on March 12, 1951. He attended elementary school in Bridge City, Texas at Bridge City Elementary School. With the family’s move to Orange, Texas where he grew up in Riverside and attended middle school at Carr Junior High, this would be where he was introduced to the band program and music. Ronnie prided himself on his newspaper route where he would buy his papers for 2-cents and sell them for a nickel as well as odd jobs he could secure at the Jack Tar, Siesta, and Capistrano Restaurants. Along with playing his favorite sandlot baseball games as a young man, he was also quite the savvy little businessman at a young age and because of this, along with his strong work ethic, he was able to purchase his prized baseball card collection, of which he prided himself on at a young age. The family would eventually move to Vinton, Louisiana where he completed middle and high school in Vinton, graduating from Vinton High School in 1969. Ronnie was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Vinton while growing up and accepting God as his Lord and Savior with his baptism in the Spring of 1967. While in high-school in Vinton, Ronnie enjoyed the band program, under the direction of Mr. John Croom and excelled as a baritone player, achieving an All-State membership for two years. He spoke many times of one performance in the All-State Band, under the baton of Air Force Director, Colonel Arnold Gabriel. While in school, he took various college entrance exams, with a perfect score achieved on the ACT as one of his academic shining moments. He elected to attend McNeese State University (MSU) on a full band scholarship, enjoying his four-years of college and musical studies under the direction of Mr. Kelly Love, and a proud member of Brother Love’s Traveling Music Show--aka the “Pride of McNeese” Band. Upon graduation from MSU in May 1973 with a BA in Fine Arts/Music Education, Ronnie accepted his first job in Zwolle, Louisiana, as the Band Director of the Junior/Senior High Mighty Hawk Band, for three years. With a desire to move closer to his hometown, he accepted the job as the band director in DeQuincy, Louisiana, again directing the Middle and High School Band programs. While in DeQuincy, he achieved his first Master of Fine Arts/Music Education Degree from McNeese State University. His success in the music programs was known throughout the area and the state, achieving Superior ratings with his marching and concert groups consistently.. Ronnie achieved the status of nomination and offered membership in Phi Beta Mu, an honorary music fraternity. Throughout his professional career, he was asked to work as well as assist with the Louisiana All-Star Marching Band for many years. While in DeQuincy, he met and married the loves of his life, Jean Rice and son Alan. Ronnie and Jean married on November 21, 1981, “between seasons” -- his marching and concert activities. Ronnie was the G.O.A.T. Dad from November 21st - forever and always – instilling his values of perseverance against all odds and recognizing the seasons of highs and lows in remaining steadfast, his kind spirit and always an humble yet confident heart and mindful aura reminder of, “If it doesn’t make a difference, then what difference does it make,” (quoting Dr. Albert T. Clark, one of his favorite professors from McNeese State University) into his precious children, grandchildren, and entire large family to whom he loved dearly. They remained in DeQuincy until June, 1982, with a move to DeRidder, Louisiana for a successful 6-years of band activities. During Ronnie’s first “full season” in DeRidder, Ronnie and Jean were delighted with the news that they would be expecting a baby girl that would be born in the Fall of 1983. Ronnie, Jean, and Alan’s family became perfectly complete with the birth of Beth, Ronnie’s daughter, in September, 1983; His twin soul and his forever “sunshine”. While in DeRidder, Ronnie began his second MEd in School Administration, achieving the degree in August, 1985. Ronnie and family, now including not only Jean, but son Alan and daughter Beth as well, moved to Lufkin, Texas where he served as the Band Director at Lufkin Junior High West and Assistant at Lufkin High School. The family chose to move even closer to home in August, 1988, with a move to Beaumont, Texas, where he became the Band Director at Austin Middle School and assistant at Central High School. His band directing days ended after three years, when he became an Assistant Principal at Austin Middle School. He then transferred to Vincent Middle School, again, as Assistant Principal in Beaumont ISD, where he remained at the school level, until January 2006, when he became the Fine Arts Supervisor for Beaumont ISD. Ronnie’s fulfilling career in total spanned 47-years, closing out this chapter of his life with his retirement in March, 2020. Ronnie’s retirement came just in time before the COVID pandemic left him home to enjoy television-- especially Blue Bloods, In the Heat of the Night, and NCIS New Orleans as well as occasional trips to “watch the golfers'' at Tyrrell Park and his penchant for crossword puzzles. Even though the McNeese games were not always played on television, in recent years, he watched the MSU Pokes, as the televised broadcast schedule would allow, as well as enjoyed his love for baseball and the Houston Astros – watching almost every game with Beth as we tried for another World Series Win! Sunday afternoons during the fall, revolved around the Saints, and pulling for another Super Bowl Win – Who ‘Dat! Over the years, Ronnie loved travelling & taking many trips with Jean and the kids, including to their favorite city - New Orleans where he would never miss a record shop scouting trip for his jukebox nor a whiskey bread pudding mission. One of his very favorite holidays was and will forever be Mardi Gras!

Ronnie’s vision and goals always started with a hand-written plan and a way to make it all come together. He always set goals and high expectations for himself and part of his vision was to consistently strive for excellence and to “be extraordinary” in all things, fondly declaring “It’s showtime”, whenever he would step onto the podium to lead his programs. Ronnie strove for excellence not just in music education but in contribution to the community as well, which continues to this day through his family and his legacy of because we are blessed, we will be a blessing to others with his mentorship as well as many gifts to the philanthropic endeavors he invested in to keep music, the arts, and education alive. Throughout the years of his professional and personal organization involvements, Ronnie was a proud member of the Louisiana Band Masters Association (LBMA), Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA), Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) and The Symphony of Southeast Texas Board of Directors.

Unfortunately, COVID knew a good man when it saw it, and it came to visit in January 2021. He “beat the virus”, only to be plagued with the numerous complications the virus presents. He left his Earthly home on February 24, 2021 at Christus St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, just after midnight. While the virus might have tried, it never stole Ronnie’s joy nor took the sparkle from his bright-blue eyes. Throughout his life in Beaumont, Ronnie was hospitalized in his later years at Baptist Hospital where he sought the care of the 4th Floor Trinity nurses and staff. He talked fondly of them and always asked to go to Baptist 4T for care, when possible. During his last days, he was treated at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital by his “Angel Nurses”, as he referred to them.

Ronnie is survived by his wife of 39+ years, Jean, his wonderful son, Alan, wife Laina and the true lights of this life, his two precious grandchildren, William and Lillian, of Lake Charles, Louisiana and his “sunshine” daughter, Beth, of Houston, Texas. His immediate family also includes sister(s) Peggy Brewer, of Orange, Texas, Patricia Smith and her husband Clay of Dumas, Arkansas, and brother Donnie Bryant and his wife Donna of Orange, Texas.

Ronnie is preceded in death by his parents, William “Bill” Wesley Bryant, Margaret Matthews and stepfather Vic Matthews, and sister(s) Pansy Chadwick and Pauline “Polly” Guidry. Numerous nieces and nephews from Ronnie’s large family have always been the highlight of his life, and he always spoke fondly and lovingly of each and every one of them. Family meant everything to Ronnie and he always enjoyed hearing of their lives from all over the United States.

The family would like to thank Dr. Roland Palang, of the Steward Group in Beaumont, TX, Dr. Mark Fasulo and his nurse Sherry, Amanda Reneau, Dr. Jehanara Ahmed, Dr. Ajith Kurikose, Dr. William Burkes, and Dr. Nathan Marschand for all-of the care, love, and compassion they showed to Ronnie just recently as well as over the years. The ICU and Second Floor Main nurses and staff at St. Elizabeth’s were most kind and compassionate, especially in his last few days, to which the family is eternally grateful.

Memorial contributions for Ronnie may be made to any of the following of your choosing:
● Julie Rogers “Gift of Life”, 2390 Dowlen Rd., Beaumont, TX 77706
● Some Other Place, 590 Center St., Beaumont, TX 77701
● Rebuild McNeese, c/o The Office of Public Relations and Events, 4205 Ryan St., Lake Charles, LA 70609
● MusicMakers2U, P.O. Box 7964, Lake Charles, LA 70606

A Celebration of Life of Ronnie’s family and friends will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at the Tyrrell Park Botanical Gardens & Arboretum Pavilion, 6088 Babe Zaharias Dr., Beaumont, TX 77705, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Reverend Nathan Cothen of Calvary Baptist Church Beaumont will preside and deliver a few of Ronnie’s favorite “Nathan Cothen” words, and sister-in-law, Reverend Lynn Jostes will lend some sweet words from the family. All that attend is asked to wear blue and gold, a nod to Ronnie’s alma-mater, McNeese State University as well as to show support for the McNeese Spring Football game being played that day. Ronnie instilled a love of the “Boys of Fall” into Alan and Beth from a young age inspiring Alan’s lifelong passion and successful career in Football and Beth’s penchant for her “down to earth side.” For the celebration of life, a mask is required, please; Social distancing will be observed. Also, no tears are allowed, only happy stories and smiles of “Bear”!

What a legacy, what a life. Ronnie would want nothing more of you than to keep him alive in your hearts by cultivating the way of love and light in your own life, as he did every day, so that it becomes the way you live and not just a thing you do. Ronnie did it “his way” and because of this, he lived a life harnessed in and powered by love. There’s power, power in love, in any form, any shape of love. There’s a certain sense in which you are loved, and you know it, when someone cares for you, and you know it, when you love and you show it - it feels right - for God is perfect love and the only way. If you knew Ronnie, you knew this was exactly how he made you feel; Always a kind word to make your day or a smile for this was his way. Do never let anything or allow any certain season to steal your joy and be sure to keep that sparkle in your eyes, for Ronnie wouldn’t have it any other way.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ronnie William Bryant, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Celebration of Life

Saturday, March 6, 2021

1:00 - 3:00 pm (Central time)

Tyrrell Park Botanical Gardens & Arboretum Pavilion

, Beaumont, TX

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