Ronald David Carlson

Ronald David Carlson was born on June 7, 1951, to John Weldon Carlson and Jean Lucile (Hitt) Carlson in Chicago, Illinois and passed from this life on December 25, 2024, in Portland, Oregon at the age of 73. 

As a young child, Ronald moved along with his family to his father’s hometown of Ketchikan Alaska. He attended KayhiHigh School in Ketchikan. As a young man, he traveled often to the San Francisco Bay area to be near his paternal grandmother, Emma (Whitmore) Carlson and paternal uncle, Ronald Carlson. It is noted that at the age of 17 he enlisted in the army and was stationed at Ft. Lewis and Ft. Org for a short time. Later helived in Anchorage, Alaska, and in the 1980s settled down in Portland, Oregon. There he occasionally worked in ranches in the area, but primarily worked in marketing as a telephone solicitor. It was in this role that he met the love of his life, Ella “Little One” Patrone. Later, when Ella developed Parkinson’s Disease, he and Ella’s daughter, Nancy East, assisted in her care until Nancy’s untimely death in 2019 and then Ella’s passing in 2020. Ronald was a beloved son, brother and friend. He was an avid reader as well as a cat lover. He was a cat parent to his beloved “Spirit.” 

He is survived by his mother, Jean Lucile (Hitt) Granville; sister,Liz (Kolar) Olmeim and brother-in-law, Bruce Olmeim; nephews Jonah Olmeim and Lucas Olmeim; nieces Jen (Olmeim) Tullos and Megan (Olmeim) Ueeck; sister, Natalia Joan Carlson and brother-in-law, Derrick Todd Yazzie; niece, Morgan Scout Yazzie and nephew, Xander Reed Yazzie;numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews; and by his best friend, Ronald Lee East Sr. 

He was preceded in death by his great love, Ella Mae “Little One” Patrone; his best friend, Nancy Louise East; his father, John Weldon Carlson; his brother, Thomas “TC” Carlson; and by his sister, Diane Emma Carlson. 

Condolences and Special Memories may be shared with the family on the tribute page.