Ronald Gerald Blissett

Sunset Memorial Park
Funeral Home and Crematory, LLC
1700 Barrington Rd. Midland City, AL
(334) 983-6604
Robert and Toni Byrd

www.SunsetMemorialPark.com

Ronald Gerald Blissett, our loving husband, father and grandfather was welcomed into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, December 19, 2011. He was 76.

Funeral services will be held 3 pm Thursday, December 22, 2011 at Sunset Funeral Home with Rev. Buddy Hood officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery with Robert Byrd directing. The family will receive friends from 1-3 pm prior to the service at the funeral home. Flowers are being accepted or memorial donations may be made to the Pilgrim Home Baptist Church Building Fund, 13534 Hwy. 84 West, Newton, AL, 36352.

Ronald was born February 13, 1935 in Cottonwood, AL and graduated from Cottonwood High School in 1953. He was a 1959 graduate of the University of Miami where he received his Bachelors degree in Education. While at school in Miami he met his soul mate Mona Merle Nobles and they wed in 1959. He and his wife traveled to Guam where they were teachers until 1965 when they moved to Wicksburg to teach. He finished his teaching career in 1968 at Girard Junior High School. During that same year he established Blissett Homes which was the beginning of a pioneering 40 year career in commercial and residential development. A few of his most recognizable commercial projects in Dothan include Colony Square Apartments, Camelot Apartments, Rolling Hills Apartments, Oak Chase Apartments and Tree Top Apartments. In Enterprise, they include Colony Apartments, LaVeta Wood Apartments, Lee Street Apartments, Camelot Apartments and Hidden Glen Apartments. Mr. Blissett was one of the first local businessmen to take an interest in the redevelopment of downtown Dothan. His work to date includes the conversion of the Blumberg Building into Houston Place, the facelift of the Denney Vision Building as well as the Page Drugstore Building which is now Moe's.

In 1985, Ronald and Mona began their work in the Dominican Republic and established a land development company, building several condominium resorts. Their immeasurable love for the Dominican people inspired another resume of work which included the founding, building and funding of the Garden Kids Private Christian School. Mr. Blissett, with the assistance and donations of several Dothan Dentists, started a local dental clinic which greatly helped the Dominican residents.

Ronald was a member of the Pilgrim Home Baptist Church in Newton and the New Life Church in the Dominican Republic. He loved spending time with his monthly supper club appropriately named "The Posse" which included special friendships spanning more than 60 years as well as his date each month with the Cottonwood Class of '53 Breakfast Club. Ronald was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, who loved and adored his family and friends all over the world. His love, friendship, generosity, and devotion will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Mona Merle Blissett of Dothan; his sons, James Howard (Monica) Blissett of Dothan, and Michael Mel (Angela) Blissett of Dothan; 3 grandchildren, Victoria Elyse Blissett, Madeline Elizabeth Blissett, and Matthew James Blissett, all of Dothan; sisters, Dorothy (Ronnie) Brown of Dothan, Linda Prudhomme of Dothan, and Mary Nell (Eddie) Dodd of Abbeville; brothers, Jimmy (Margaret) Blissett of Eufaula, and Johnny Ray (Patty) Blissett of Lafayette, LA; several nieces and nephews also survive.

Serving as pallbearers will be nephews Paul Pfluke, Pep Pfluke and Jason Blissett. Also, serving will be Michael Graham and Jose’ Domingus from the Dominican Republic. Honorary pallbearers will the "The Posse" members, Edwin & Gail Whitehead, Merlin & Faye Martin, James & Anne Roney, Lamer & Brenda Faulk, Stan & Jo Peterson, Bill & Cathy Mayo, and Alan & the late Loretta Wells.

Ronald's final project was just completed and can be viewed in his backyard from Westgate Parkway. Along with his two sons, he built a life size Nativity display. With his love of the Christmas season and his passion for building, it is only fitting that his final project was one depicting the birth of our beloved Savior with whom he now resides.

Robert Byrd of Sunset Funeral Home, (334) 983-6604, is in charge of arrangements. Please call us or visit www.SunsetMemorialPark.com for more information.