Obituary

  Fort Myers, Fla. - Glen Royal Ranney, 81, Fort Myers, Fla., died Monday, Aug. 11, 2008 in Oklahoma City while visiting relatives with his family.
  Ranney was born in Monmouth, and moved with his family to Naples, Fla. in 1962, where he worked in the markets of the Don Wynn family for more than 20 years. In 1986, he moved to Fort Myers with his family and worked at the markets of the James Sapp family.
  Ranney, with his wife, founded the Ranney Chapter of the American Hibiscus Society of Naples and brought the first hybrid hibiscus plants into the city of Naples, Fla. He was national president of the AHS in 1980-1982. Ranney served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.
  In Fort Myers, he founded the Tree Gallery business with his wife and designed large artificial trees for 20 years. He helped his wife found the City of Fort Myers String Band, singing in a bass voice as a soloist and in the chorus of the band for seven years. Three weeks before his death, he recorded his favorite song, "Because He Lives" for the family. Ranney spent many years as a square dancer and rose to the C level as a dancer. He was a family man who loved a quiet home life and the simple pastimes of bike riding and taking walks with the family.
  He is survived by his wife Mary; two children, Diane Bowie, Lima, Peru and Nancy Deemer, Fort Myers, Fla.; three grandchildren, Charles Edward Meadows III and Angela Michelle Pearl of Knoxville, Tenn. and Gina Marie Ellis, Fort Myers, Fla.; three step-grandchildren, Gerald Edward Bowie, Jacksonville, Fla., Tyrone Richard Bowie, Orlando, Fla. and Angela Renee Saegebrecht, Knoxville, Tenn.; five great-grandchildren, Paige and Charles E Meadows IV, Isaac Pearl, Natalie and Erica Ellis; and three step great-grandchildren, Samantha Saegebrecht, Bradley Lawson and Tyson Bowie.
  Family members will meet privately for a memorial remembrance. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to honor Ranney's memory are asked to forward memorial gifts to DB Peru, a non-profit medical charity, whose business office in the U.S. is at 822 Neuse Ave, Fort Myers, Fla. 33913.
  Arrangements were made by the Cremation and Mortuary Service of Oklahoma City.
(Daily Review Atlas, Monmouth, Illinois, Monday, August 25, 2008)