Ronda began her adventurous journey in life in Ukiah, born to Marian and Ronald Courtney. Her first trip was from Ukiah's General Hospital on Dora St. to her family's PG&E home near the power plant for the Eel River diversion where her father worked in Potter Valley. One year later, her family moved to Azusa, CA, where her sister, Connie, and brother, Jerry, were later born. Marian brought her three lively children back to Ukiah where Ronda started school, forming many lifelong friends.
After high school, Ronda continued her journey to many locations. As a young adult, she attended business colleges from Alaska to California.
Her first gift to the world, Dallas, was born in Fort Bragg, CA, while her second adored daughter, Ashley, was born in Woodstock, NY. With a keen business sense, Ronda held many positions that utilized her unique skills. In Albany, NY, she was Vice President of a major bank.
Moving to Florida with her 3rd husband, Mike Balaha, she became a financial advisor. Ronda recognized that one of her greatest attributes was understanding and connecting with people. She courageously started her own business, training clients in secretarial skills, specializing in communication with employers by anticipating their needs. Sometimes life hits hard, as in Hurricane Katrina, but Ronda and Mike used that opportunity to learn to live life to the fullest, and built a yacht for their new home. Their valuable skills in dock and boat repair brought them on many trips up and down the east coast of the United States and around the Caribbean. Summer was their season of "work" and last summer, Ronda added teaching jet skiing in North Carolina to her resum‚. Ronda and Mike took advantage of their off season by taking their boat to the Bahamas and visited islands of all sizes around the Caribbean. They also took their boat to the shores of Mexico, where they camped and took fascinating excursions through the coastal towns, appreciating their friendly encounters.
A recent trip to Puerto Rico with her sister, Connie, left everyone with special memories. Ronda had a courageous sense of fun, willing to jump off of cliffs to soar with the wind in her paraglider.
Although she had been ill for several years, Ronda still had a zest for life and continued to plan and experience more adventures. Her trip to Thailand with her husband and friends was cancelled when she passed away two days before that next adventure. Perhaps this unanticipated detour to the afterlife will bring her even more joy than her incredible journey of life.
Ronda was predeceased by her precious daughter, Dallas Simmons, by her sister, Lynn Shank, her father, Ronald Courtney, her uncle, Lawrence Rupe, and her grandparents, Alvin and Vera Rupe.
She is survived by her loving husband, Mike Balaha, and her daughter, Ashley Zuckerman, both of West Palm Beach, Florida. She will be deeply missed by her parents, Joe and Marian Scherf of Ukiah. Ronda is also survived by siblings, Jerry Courtney of Yorkville, Connie (Ed) Bible of Santa Rosa, Beverly (Robert) Scherf of Placerville, John (Marie) Scherf of Santa Rosa and Jim (Sue) Scherf of Wisconsin. Her aunts, Carolyn Heady of Redwood Valley, Doris Rupe of Ukiah, and Lona Saunders of Ukiah, were very special to her. In addition, she will be remembered by family members Debbie Courtney of Ukiah, Lee Courtney of Arizona, and numerous well-loved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ronda was also predeceased by her ancestors, early pioneer settlers of California, who bravely traveled under precarious circumstances. The attributes of these brave and adventurous ancestors seems to have been part of Ronda's genes, providing her with the courage to continue with many adventurous journeys throughout her life.
Family members think of Ronda as their "Ramblin' Rose", remembering her through the lyrics popularized by Nat King Cole: Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose Why you ramble, no one knows Wild and wind-blown, that's how you've grown Who can cling to a ramblin' rose. Ramble on, ramble on When your ramblin' days are gone Who will love you with a love true When your ramblin' days are through? Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose Why I want you, heaven knows Though I love you with a love true Who can cling to a ramblin' rose?
Ronda's ashes will be scattered in the Gulf Stream waters. These ashes will be accompanied in their journey by a single red rose, requested by her dad, Joe Scherf, to represent the love from her family.
Good bye, with love to our wanderer, Ronda Susanne Courtney.
Published in Ukiah Daily Journal on July 17, 2013
After high school, Ronda continued her journey to many locations. As a young adult, she attended business colleges from Alaska to California.
Her first gift to the world, Dallas, was born in Fort Bragg, CA, while her second adored daughter, Ashley, was born in Woodstock, NY. With a keen business sense, Ronda held many positions that utilized her unique skills. In Albany, NY, she was Vice President of a major bank.
Moving to Florida with her 3rd husband, Mike Balaha, she became a financial advisor. Ronda recognized that one of her greatest attributes was understanding and connecting with people. She courageously started her own business, training clients in secretarial skills, specializing in communication with employers by anticipating their needs. Sometimes life hits hard, as in Hurricane Katrina, but Ronda and Mike used that opportunity to learn to live life to the fullest, and built a yacht for their new home. Their valuable skills in dock and boat repair brought them on many trips up and down the east coast of the United States and around the Caribbean. Summer was their season of "work" and last summer, Ronda added teaching jet skiing in North Carolina to her resum‚. Ronda and Mike took advantage of their off season by taking their boat to the Bahamas and visited islands of all sizes around the Caribbean. They also took their boat to the shores of Mexico, where they camped and took fascinating excursions through the coastal towns, appreciating their friendly encounters.
A recent trip to Puerto Rico with her sister, Connie, left everyone with special memories. Ronda had a courageous sense of fun, willing to jump off of cliffs to soar with the wind in her paraglider.
Although she had been ill for several years, Ronda still had a zest for life and continued to plan and experience more adventures. Her trip to Thailand with her husband and friends was cancelled when she passed away two days before that next adventure. Perhaps this unanticipated detour to the afterlife will bring her even more joy than her incredible journey of life.
Ronda was predeceased by her precious daughter, Dallas Simmons, by her sister, Lynn Shank, her father, Ronald Courtney, her uncle, Lawrence Rupe, and her grandparents, Alvin and Vera Rupe.
She is survived by her loving husband, Mike Balaha, and her daughter, Ashley Zuckerman, both of West Palm Beach, Florida. She will be deeply missed by her parents, Joe and Marian Scherf of Ukiah. Ronda is also survived by siblings, Jerry Courtney of Yorkville, Connie (Ed) Bible of Santa Rosa, Beverly (Robert) Scherf of Placerville, John (Marie) Scherf of Santa Rosa and Jim (Sue) Scherf of Wisconsin. Her aunts, Carolyn Heady of Redwood Valley, Doris Rupe of Ukiah, and Lona Saunders of Ukiah, were very special to her. In addition, she will be remembered by family members Debbie Courtney of Ukiah, Lee Courtney of Arizona, and numerous well-loved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ronda was also predeceased by her ancestors, early pioneer settlers of California, who bravely traveled under precarious circumstances. The attributes of these brave and adventurous ancestors seems to have been part of Ronda's genes, providing her with the courage to continue with many adventurous journeys throughout her life.
Family members think of Ronda as their "Ramblin' Rose", remembering her through the lyrics popularized by Nat King Cole: Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose Why you ramble, no one knows Wild and wind-blown, that's how you've grown Who can cling to a ramblin' rose. Ramble on, ramble on When your ramblin' days are gone Who will love you with a love true When your ramblin' days are through? Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose Why I want you, heaven knows Though I love you with a love true Who can cling to a ramblin' rose?
Ronda's ashes will be scattered in the Gulf Stream waters. These ashes will be accompanied in their journey by a single red rose, requested by her dad, Joe Scherf, to represent the love from her family.
Good bye, with love to our wanderer, Ronda Susanne Courtney.
Published in Ukiah Daily Journal on July 17, 2013
Ronda began her adventurous journey in life in Ukiah, born to Marian and Ronald Courtney. Her first trip was from Ukiah's General Hospital on Dora St. to her family's PG&E home near the power plant for the Eel River diversion where her father worked in Potter Valley. One year later, her family moved to Azusa, CA, where her sister, Connie, and brother, Jerry, were later born. Marian brought her three lively children back to Ukiah where Ronda started school, forming many lifelong friends.
After high school, Ronda continued her journey to many locations. As a young adult, she attended business colleges from Alaska to California.
Her first gift to the world, Dallas, was born in Fort Bragg, CA, while her second adored daughter, Ashley, was born in Woodstock, NY. With a keen business sense, Ronda held many positions that utilized her unique skills. In Albany, NY, she was Vice President of a major bank.
Moving to Florida with her 3rd husband, Mike Balaha, she became a financial advisor. Ronda recognized that one of her greatest attributes was understanding and connecting with people. She courageously started her own business, training clients in secretarial skills, specializing in communication with employers by anticipating their needs. Sometimes life hits hard, as in Hurricane Katrina, but Ronda and Mike used that opportunity to learn to live life to the fullest, and built a yacht for their new home. Their valuable skills in dock and boat repair brought them on many trips up and down the east coast of the United States and around the Caribbean. Summer was their season of "work" and last summer, Ronda added teaching jet skiing in North Carolina to her resum‚. Ronda and Mike took advantage of their off season by taking their boat to the Bahamas and visited islands of all sizes around the Caribbean. They also took their boat to the shores of Mexico, where they camped and took fascinating excursions through the coastal towns, appreciating their friendly encounters.
A recent trip to Puerto Rico with her sister, Connie, left everyone with special memories. Ronda had a courageous sense of fun, willing to jump off of cliffs to soar with the wind in her paraglider.
Although she had been ill for several years, Ronda still had a zest for life and continued to plan and experience more adventures. Her trip to Thailand with her husband and friends was cancelled when she passed away two days before that next adventure. Perhaps this unanticipated detour to the afterlife will bring her even more joy than her incredible journey of life.
Ronda was predeceased by her precious daughter, Dallas Simmons, by her sister, Lynn Shank, her father, Ronald Courtney, her uncle, Lawrence Rupe, and her grandparents, Alvin and Vera Rupe.
She is survived by her loving husband, Mike Balaha, and her daughter, Ashley Zuckerman, both of West Palm Beach, Florida. She will be deeply missed by her parents, Joe and Marian Scherf of Ukiah. Ronda is also survived by siblings, Jerry Courtney of Yorkville, Connie (Ed) Bible of Santa Rosa, Beverly (Robert) Scherf of Placerville, John (Marie) Scherf of Santa Rosa and Jim (Sue) Scherf of Wisconsin. Her aunts, Carolyn Heady of Redwood Valley, Doris Rupe of Ukiah, and Lona Saunders of Ukiah, were very special to her. In addition, she will be remembered by family members Debbie Courtney of Ukiah, Lee Courtney of Arizona, and numerous well-loved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ronda was also predeceased by her ancestors, early pioneer settlers of California, who bravely traveled under precarious circumstances. The attributes of these brave and adventurous ancestors seems to have been part of Ronda's genes, providing her with the courage to continue with many adventurous journeys throughout her life.
Family members think of Ronda as their "Ramblin' Rose", remembering her through the lyrics popularized by Nat King Cole: Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose Why you ramble, no one knows Wild and wind-blown, that's how you've grown Who can cling to a ramblin' rose. Ramble on, ramble on When your ramblin' days are gone Who will love you with a love true When your ramblin' days are through? Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose Why I want you, heaven knows Though I love you with a love true Who can cling to a ramblin' rose?
Ronda's ashes will be scattered in the Gulf Stream waters. These ashes will be accompanied in their journey by a single red rose, requested by her dad, Joe Scherf, to represent the love from her family.
Good bye, with love to our wanderer, Ronda Susanne Courtney.
Published in Ukiah Daily Journal on July 17, 2013
After high school, Ronda continued her journey to many locations. As a young adult, she attended business colleges from Alaska to California.
Her first gift to the world, Dallas, was born in Fort Bragg, CA, while her second adored daughter, Ashley, was born in Woodstock, NY. With a keen business sense, Ronda held many positions that utilized her unique skills. In Albany, NY, she was Vice President of a major bank.
Moving to Florida with her 3rd husband, Mike Balaha, she became a financial advisor. Ronda recognized that one of her greatest attributes was understanding and connecting with people. She courageously started her own business, training clients in secretarial skills, specializing in communication with employers by anticipating their needs. Sometimes life hits hard, as in Hurricane Katrina, but Ronda and Mike used that opportunity to learn to live life to the fullest, and built a yacht for their new home. Their valuable skills in dock and boat repair brought them on many trips up and down the east coast of the United States and around the Caribbean. Summer was their season of "work" and last summer, Ronda added teaching jet skiing in North Carolina to her resum‚. Ronda and Mike took advantage of their off season by taking their boat to the Bahamas and visited islands of all sizes around the Caribbean. They also took their boat to the shores of Mexico, where they camped and took fascinating excursions through the coastal towns, appreciating their friendly encounters.
A recent trip to Puerto Rico with her sister, Connie, left everyone with special memories. Ronda had a courageous sense of fun, willing to jump off of cliffs to soar with the wind in her paraglider.
Although she had been ill for several years, Ronda still had a zest for life and continued to plan and experience more adventures. Her trip to Thailand with her husband and friends was cancelled when she passed away two days before that next adventure. Perhaps this unanticipated detour to the afterlife will bring her even more joy than her incredible journey of life.
Ronda was predeceased by her precious daughter, Dallas Simmons, by her sister, Lynn Shank, her father, Ronald Courtney, her uncle, Lawrence Rupe, and her grandparents, Alvin and Vera Rupe.
She is survived by her loving husband, Mike Balaha, and her daughter, Ashley Zuckerman, both of West Palm Beach, Florida. She will be deeply missed by her parents, Joe and Marian Scherf of Ukiah. Ronda is also survived by siblings, Jerry Courtney of Yorkville, Connie (Ed) Bible of Santa Rosa, Beverly (Robert) Scherf of Placerville, John (Marie) Scherf of Santa Rosa and Jim (Sue) Scherf of Wisconsin. Her aunts, Carolyn Heady of Redwood Valley, Doris Rupe of Ukiah, and Lona Saunders of Ukiah, were very special to her. In addition, she will be remembered by family members Debbie Courtney of Ukiah, Lee Courtney of Arizona, and numerous well-loved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ronda was also predeceased by her ancestors, early pioneer settlers of California, who bravely traveled under precarious circumstances. The attributes of these brave and adventurous ancestors seems to have been part of Ronda's genes, providing her with the courage to continue with many adventurous journeys throughout her life.
Family members think of Ronda as their "Ramblin' Rose", remembering her through the lyrics popularized by Nat King Cole: Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose Why you ramble, no one knows Wild and wind-blown, that's how you've grown Who can cling to a ramblin' rose. Ramble on, ramble on When your ramblin' days are gone Who will love you with a love true When your ramblin' days are through? Ramblin' rose, ramblin' rose Why I want you, heaven knows Though I love you with a love true Who can cling to a ramblin' rose?
Ronda's ashes will be scattered in the Gulf Stream waters. These ashes will be accompanied in their journey by a single red rose, requested by her dad, Joe Scherf, to represent the love from her family.
Good bye, with love to our wanderer, Ronda Susanne Courtney.
Published in Ukiah Daily Journal on July 17, 2013
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