Walla Walla, WA - RONALD LEE ALEXANDER, much loved husband of Pam, & father, grandfather, & pastor, went to be with His Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, after a nearly two-year battle with cancer. Ron was born to Carroll & Ruth Alexander in Yakima, WA, & was raised on a cattle ranch with his two brothers Denny & Jim, which began his love of western lifestyle. He spent his school days at Jefferson, Washington, Davis, & YVC all in Yakima, & NNU in Nampa, ID. As a young man, he spent his extra-curricular time playing football, basketball, & baseball, & was involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes & his church. As a very young child, Ron received Jesus as His Savior, & at the age of 12 received his call from God to ministry.

As a 15-year old, Ron began dating Pam Cherrington, & after dating 5 yrs., they married in August of 1969 & have been married 56½ yrs. In 1971, Ron began full-time ministry as a youth pastor at Walla Walla First Church of the Nazarene (now Amazing Grace) & started Power & Light Co. & received the affectionate title of PR (short for Pastor Ron). In 1973, they moved to Nampa, ID, where he was the youth pastor at the First Church of the Nazarene, & in 1974 he & Pam became very proud parents of their daughter Jennifer. In 1979, he became lead pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in Lewiston, ID, & also began a police chaplaincy program during his years there. In 1983, they moved back to Walla Walla to be the lead pastor at Amazing Grace Nazarene Church for 29 yrs. Because of his deep continued love for law enforcement, Pastor Ron also began a police chaplaincy program in Walla Walla which he led for 22 years. During his last 2 yrs. at Amazing Grace, in 2010, PR also started Walla Walla Valley Cowboy Church & pastored both churches until 2012, when he continued pastoring only Cowboy Church until his passing.

God placed the vision for Cowboy Church on PR's heart, & for nearly 10 yrs. he prayed & sought God's will before starting the church. Pastor Ron was humbled & blessed to experience God working in & through him to bring so many to Christ through Cowboy Church. Miracle upon miracle was brought to life as through PR & Cowboy Church, God enabled them to build a church building debt-free during Covid, start & direct an annual Rodeo Bible Camp, & touch the hearts & lives of countless people with the Gospel. He was also heavily involved in the western heritage community of Walla Walla. During his 55 years in full-time ministry, he had a heart for the lost & for wanting as many as possible to come to know Jesus as their Savior. PR deeply invested in the lives of the people of his church & was a true shepherd of his flock; in everything he did, he led with love.

After Jesus, the love of Ron's life was his family. Their family of three grew to include a son-in-law, Ross Stremcha; two granddaughters, Alyssa & Alexis; & a grandson-in-law, Alexis's husband Curtis Winona. God richly blessed this family with an amazing tight-knit bond, strengthened by their deep-rooted mutual faith. From partnering in ministry, to holiday traditions, to family vacations, to living on the same property, Ron cultivated special relationships with each member of his family. Ron was a skilled woodcarver & enjoyed playing the Native flutes that he made; he also enjoyed playing the harmonica, attending rodeos, & being involved in the western heritage culture. The highest goal of his life was to seek to please the Lord in all he did, & for God to receive all the glory.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 11am at Walla Walla Valley Cowboy Church, 8136 Old Highway 12, Walla Walla. Memorial gifts may be given to Walla Walla Valley Cowboy Church to the PR Memorial Fund.