We Remember
MAYFORTH, Ronald
—
“I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.”
-Mother Theresa
Dr Ronald Mayforth went home to be with the Lord on December 28, 2019. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Sharon and their 3 children: Pamela (Dale) Hanson; Polly (Myron) Krause; and Perry (Michelle) Mayforth; as well as his 9 grandchildren; his 1 and ¾ great grandchildren; and his 3 brothers.
Ronald Eric Mayforth was born on July 18, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, to Charles and Gertrude Mayforth. Charlie and Gertie raised their four boys, Richard “Dick”, Ronald “Ron”, Robert “Bob”, and Russell “Pete” in the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Michigan area. They attended the First Baptist Church in St. Joseph where Ronnie made a decision to follow Jesus at the age of 12. His pastor, Reverend Broker, recognized his gifts and encouraged him to go into ministry.
After High School, Ron enrolled at Fort Wayne Bible College and met the sweet, petite, love of his life, Sharon Anne Yntema. They were married September 12, 1959, in Detroit, as they entered their last year of Bible College. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies.
1963 was a big year for Ron, as he graduated from the Sioux Falls Seminary at the top of his class with a Master of Divinity Degree and was ordained to the gospel ministry with his brother, Richard, in a double ceremony at their home church. He and Sharon also welcomed their first born, Pamela Sue. Polly Anne would come along in Madison, South Dakota in 1966. Perry Alan would round out the family in 1968 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Ron would go on to graduate from the North American Baptist Seminary with his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1983.
Together, Ron and Sharon faithfully served churches in Indiana, South Dakota, Michigan, Alberta, and British Columbia. They were dynamite as a team. Ron also had other opportunities to use his varied gifts. He served as a District Area Minister for the Dakotas, Montana, and Minnesota for two years and at the North American Baptist Headquarters in Chicago as the Director of Area Ministers for four years. He spent almost 11 years at the Edmonton Baptist Seminary where he excelled and thrived as the Professor of Pastoral Theology. He spent his last 11 years before retirement, working part-time for the NAB Conference as the Liaison for Retired Servants (Pastors, Missionaries, Professors, and Chaplains). He had good opportunities; he gave himself to God, the people, and his work and was rewarded with a rich vocational life.
Ron and Sharon lived in 16 different places and had the privilege of travelling to Israel, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, England, Scotland, Wales, The Bahamas, Mexico, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Holland, Yugoslavia and most of the US and Canada.
This past year, Ron and Sharon celebrated sixty years of married life. What an accomplishment in this day and age! They’re blessed with 9 grandchildren, one great grandchild and one on the way!
Ron loved God, God’s word, the Church of Jesus, his wife, family and friends, nature, reading, humor, music, theatre, dining out, walking, golfing, and swimming.
He was a devoted follower of Jesus, a loving son, brother, husband, father, and friend, a diligent scholar, a passionate, creative preacher, a faithful shepherd, a lively storyteller, a witty, funny man, and a cheerful, generous giver who strived to live out the Kingdom of God here on earth. He’s touched many lives and will be missed. We thank God for Ronald Eric Mayforth.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 1:00 pm at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Cameroon Chosen Children (orphans) c/o Trinity Legacy Foundation, 1905 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC V1Y 7V7.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
THIS SERVICE WILL BE LIVE STREAMED SATURDAY, JANUARY 18 AT 1:00PM
Service
Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 1:00 pm
Location
Springfield Funeral Home
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Service Details
The service for MAYFORTH, Ronald is scheduled for Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 1:00 pm. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
So sorry to hear of Ron’s passing. I have fond memories of Ron from NABC days. We laughed often.
Sorry to hear of Pastor Ron’s passing. I have good memories of Pastor Ron as our pastor over the years
at Trinity Baptist, Kelowna. May God give you Sharon & famlies comfort & peace during this difficult time, Lorraine Job, Surrey
Sharon, Polly, Pam and Perry. I have many fond memories of your dear husband and father as a chid and young person at Brentview shortly after we started attending their in the late sixties. Sharon, you and Ron have been such dear and close friends to my parents, which I have appreciated over the years and I know they count as being very special. Praying for the Lord’s peace and comfort in this time of grief and celebrating with you for Ron’s release from pain and suffering into the welcoming arms of Jesus. Looking forward to revisiting and enjoying his great sense of humor in the sweet by and by! Blessings on you all.
Sharon – – Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We pray for God’s comfort and strength during this time of loss. We have many wonderful memories of the times we spent together over the years.
Love and Prayers
Milton & Linda Ohlhauser.
I appreciated Ron’s influence on me as one of his students. I really appreciated his emphasis on pastoral prayer in his teaching and enjoyed hearing his well thought out prayers. If someone in the family has access to his messages and could print them or post them on the internet it would continue to bless many people. I would certainly be interested in reading them as Ron was a gifted speaker. May his legacy live on.
So much of what I learned about pastoral care was from Ron and Sharon. Your love for people has inspired me for years. Thank you for your service and may you rest in his peace.
We are so sorry to hear of Ron’s passing, Sharon! We remember to good times we had both at Caliente and Sumas! May you find comfort in you memories, family and friends, and above all my Jesus be your soulmate now! Hugs and prayers for your family !
Sending my sincere condolences to Sharon on the loss of her husband. Praying that you will feel God’s love and peace surround you in these difficult days! Heinz enjoyed serving on BC and NAB Committees with Ron.
-Sheryl Korsch
My thoughts and prayers are with you Sharon and family. My memories of Ron are when he traveled with our God’s Volunteers team in 1972/73. He was a blessing for sure. God be with you all.
Dear Perry
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time.
Paul Mc Namee
We send our love, sympathy, and prayers to you as a family. Ron was a great encourager to us all. We see many of his wonderful traits in you, Perry. He had a passionate heart for God, just like YOU. What a legacy he left.
I have so many memories of Ron and the family, starting on your arrival in Calgary. Then at conventions, conferences, even a lovely time in Florida just before we went on a cruise with the Kernohans and Milt Ohlhausers. Your family brought so many blessings to our lives.
I never met Ron. I was one of the kids Pastor Perry mentored in Jr. High and high school. I’m grateful the faithfulness started in Perry’s dad that has been passed down to the next generation.
Dear Sharon and Mayforth family,
Holding all of you in our hearts these days – knowing that the God of all Comfort is with you. Both of you – Ron and Sharon, had a most special friendship with Dorene and Clarence… they always looked forward to connecting with you two…. and we are grateful for the lasting testimony of your character and obedience to Christ. Thanks too for sharing Perry, your son with us at Sunrise…. “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be”….
So many fond memories of Ron & Sharon go back to NAB Seminary days and also over the years whenever our paths intersected as we each sought to serve our Lord with our given gifts. Ron precedes us as we wait to follow, looking forward to the hope and the promises that still lie ahead. in the meantime my condolence to you Sharon and all the family.
My heart goes out to you and your family at this difficult time. Many memories have been made which will remain forever.. my fondest memories are the trip to Israel and Turkey and the weekends together at Sumas. I pray that God’s love, comfort and strength will sustain you.
I want to wrap you in a tight hug of deep and heartfelt sympathy, by long distance.
Dear Sharon: My heart goes out to you as you begin a “new normal” without Ron. May God give you strength and peace. We appreciated Ron’s prayers, messages and sense of humor (especially on the bus tours you organized!) He was a great encouragement to me as Ernie was dying, and a comfort as he took care of the funeral. With my love and prayers, Esther
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Just loved your sermons here at Brentview when your went to the very core of the gospel. My heart goes out to u Sharon and your family at your great loss.
Ron. How can we forget his sense of humour and the way he could present the Gospel. We partlcularly remember how he could “TipToe thru the tulips.” at our New Year gathering.. Condolences Sharon. God comfort you..
We have such fond memories of Ron We were struggling with some church problems and Sharon and Ron were our
support haven. Not only then but often. Sharon, our deep sympathies to you and your family, What a privilege and the
Gift of God’s Love & Grace to be called home by the King of Kings & Lord of Lords. Sharon & family, remember that the God of all comfort has called him home but He hasn’t left you comfortless. We know that will be your strength & consolation now and days to come.
To Sharon, Pam, Polly, Perry, as well as your significant others and children: I will forever be grateful for the care, support, friendship directed toward my family in our darkest season. Ron and Sharon, you were champs and practical examples of Jesus in that difficult time in the mid ’70’s. For that reason and others, you will always be warmly remembered by me. Ron was one of my pastoral hero’s and mentors. His sense of humor and love of great biblical proclamation/teaching still inspires me. And one small piece of advice he gave me in the fall of 2007 still rattles in my mind. Honestly, I think about it probably a couple times a month. Corrine and I had lunch with Ron & Sharon a few days before we left Kelowna to take on a new ministry challenge in Edmonton (I’m still here – more than 12 years later). As we got up from the table and said our final goodbyes, Ron pulled me in and whispered in my ear: “Do your praying during the week.” That might not mean much to you, but I knew exactly what he meant. It was his way of encouraging me to be accessible, to not just lead, preach, and teach from a distance, but to hang out in the lobbies and hallways, and to BE WITH people. It was his way of reminding me that pastoral ministry is still overwhelmingly about shepherding. His words continue to call me out of isolation into community. Regularly! My sympathies and prayers are for you today. Sharon, to you in particular, thank you for being a great friend to my mom, and for sharing your dear Ron with me and so many others who learned from you both. God be with you all.
Greg
Our sympathy and love to you Sharon and all the family. It was special to see the live streaming service today. What a privilege we had of Seminary days together and more. Our hope is in the Lord. Blessings and prayers of encouragement come from our hearts to yours.
Our deepest condolences to everyone. We have a lot of great memories over the years of our families being together. He was a wonderful person and know he will be greatly missed. We live streamed the service and it was very nice and a great representation of who he was and how close your family is.
The service was inspiring and a beautiful tribute to a man of God who truly made a difference in many lives. My late husband, Richard, and I were so appreciative of Ron and Sharon’s ministry to us in the Atlantic Association. The legacy of caring ministry of Ron, Sharon and family continues! May God grant you all HIS peace and joy as you remember and miss an amazing man, Ron Mayforth! Ruth Pleines Port Washington, NY.
Dear Sharon and Family,
Words are insufficient to express the depth of feelings brought to our hearts watching Ron’s memorial service this afternoon. The rich love of Christ was demonstrated in every song, tribute and meditation, honoring a man who loved well and was well loved. We are blessed to have known him and pray that the God of all comfort will walk with each of you as you carry Ron’s memory and legacy into the days, weeks and years ahead.
Sharon, Pamela, Dale & Taylor , I am so sorry to hear of Ron’s passing. He will be greatly missed. We always had great conversations when I saw him. My thoughts are with you all. Helen
Pamela, my heart goes out to you and your family at this time of sorrow. Your dad was a wonderful man and I have so many fond memories of him, he always made me laugh and smile! Sending you all of my love.
Heather Shepherd
This is a really Good long Time Godly Friend of Ron Mayforth that Was a Very Awesome Pastor just like My Now late Father Rubin Herrmann on Who as Well Passed Away on Due to level 4 Bone Cancer as of last Summer of July 9Th on at Capital Care Norwood Hospice Unit, He Was The Age of 94 Years of Age. And My Sisterlaw Lee Tim’s Wife Got Hit on From Beyond just a really Simple Morning Walk on Not Too Far on From on Where Tim and Lee Had use too live on at on For 43 long Year’s! Lee Herrmann was Creamated on July 25 of last Year. I’am Soo Deeply Sorry on For your Deep loss of a Very Kind And loving Father a Real Good Parent And a Father law as Well too. Me, Bruce Herrmann I Now live in a Group Home on Downtown Red Deer Area! My Sincere Condolences on Too The rest of The Mayforth & Krause Family as Well. in Jesus Name, Bruce Herrmann of Red Deer AB!