Ronald Conrad Doney

Ronald Conrad Doney, 94, of St. George, Utah, returned home to his Heavenly Father on March 1, 2025. He was born March 12, 1930, in Franklin, Idaho, to Conrad Cutler Doney and Areta Bergeson, the eldest of six children.

Raised on a dairy farm, Roald learned hard work early, milking cows by hand at eight and tending beet fields with his brother. He loved riding horses, gardening, and growing rare crops like watermelons and cantaloupes. He graduated from Preston High School in 1948 and attended Utah State University before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the North Central States Mission from April 1950 to April 1952.

After returning, Ronald met the love of his life Ramona Keller, and they were married in the Logan Utah Temple on October 17, 1952. Weeks later, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in the Korean War from Nov 1952 to Oct 1954.

Following his service, Ronald earned a bachelor’s in Agriculture (1957) and a master’s degree in Soil Science (1959) from Utah State University. He began his teaching career at the College of Southern Utah before receiving a fellowship in Radiation Biology at Cornell University in 1961.

While studying at Cornell, Ronald pursued a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, with minors in biochemistry and radiobiology, earning a Rockefeller Foundation assistantship. In 1966, he joined Cortland State University, becoming an Associate Professor of Biology in 1970. He pioneered self-instructional videos for botany labs, studied radioactive isotopes at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and researched topics like plant metabolism and self-incompatibility. He also served as editor of the internationally distributed Plant Cell Incompatibility Newsletter.

A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ronald touched many lives in his service as Branch President and Bishop in Cortland, New York. After retiring, he and Ramona moved to Canada, where he served as a counselor in the Toronto Temple presidency. They later continued service in the Palmyra New York Temple.

Ronald loved traveling, taking family trips throughout the U.S. and Canada. He enjoyed history, stamp collecting, gardening, and sports. An avid bowler, he played in several leagues for decades, celebrating his retirement party at a bowling alley in 1995.

Above all, Ronald was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, known for his faith, kindness, and integrity.

He is survived by his children: Craig Doney (Donna) of Gardner, KS; Eileen Beebe (Terry) of St. George, UT; Clark Doney (Beverley) of St. Robert, MO; Neal Doney (Mei) of St. George, UT; Kenneth Doney (Emilee) of East Hampton, CT; Vera Anne Buys (Scott) of St. George, UT; and Melanie Marriott (Eric) of Santa Clara, UT. He is also survived by his brother Devon Lyle Doney, and his sisters LaDawn (Allen), Barbara (Eliason), Shirleen (Farley), and Ann (Harris). Ronald and Ramona were blessed with 29 grandchildren and 69 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Ramona.

The family thanks the staff at Southern Utah Veterans Home and Dixie Hospice for their compassionate care.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in the Franklin Idaho Stake Center, 112 E Main Street, Franklin, Idaho. A viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:30-10:15 a.m. at the church. Military rites and interment will be in the Franklin Idaho Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com

Services will be available to stream live on Saturday March 8, at 10:30 a.m. MST by clicking the following link:

https://youtube.com/live/XYYfjd9EqI4?feature=share