Ron was born in Boise Idaho on March 21st, 1935, to Melvin “Dooley” and Edith Shelley. Ron spent his preschool years with family in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho. He moved around a lot in his school years, between Emmett, Idaho to Crabtree, Ore. to Brownsville, Ore. to finishing high school in Payette, Idaho. He met and married his first wife Nancy Lee in Payette where they welcomed their first child Vicky.

Ron went to college at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho studying Agriculture, and then joined the Army where he took his basic training at Fort Oard, Calif., before he was sent to Germany, being stationed near the wall between east and west Germany. After receiving an honorable discharge, he went to work for his dad at the Acton Ranch near Drewsey. 

There, Ron and Nancy welcomed their second child, their son, Glen. After years of building his ranching experience working with his dad and making changes, Ron moved to Murphy, Idaho where he lived with his second wife, Donna Moser. In Murphy, they welcomed their daughter, Alissa. Later, they bought a ranch on Sod House near the Malheur Refuge, and there they welcomed their son, Curt. 

While at Sod House, Ron bought shares in the newly formed Bell A Grazing Association working with partners to ensure a future for the ranching community. In time, he sold the ranch at Sod House and went in with his father buying the Lamb Ranch in Drewsey up on Stinkingwater. While at the Lamb Ranch, Ron received the Cooperator of the Year in 1980, awarded by the Soil and Water Conservation District. Later, he met and married his third wife, Mary Stoddart selling the Lamb Ranch and working different places, including Crow Camp and a ranch in Vale. Ron also independently worked for Nick Covich out of Juntura, and various companies running heavy equipment as well as managing cattle ranches.

After leaving Vale, on his own, he bought the Temple Ranch on Cow Creek Road outside of Burns, in 1998, where he built a house and lived his remaining years, buckaroo’ing for Rattlesnake Creek Ranch, working with his son Glen until he retired at 85 in 2020. Ron devoted his life to ranching and worked tirelessly to contribute to the ranching community. He was an avid Elks member, FFA and 4-H supporter and loved to attend the Burns Fair and Rodeo, horse sales, riding his horses and 4-wheelers with his trusty dogs, and spend time following the successes of his children, grandchildren, relatives and friends.

Ron passed away in Burns on May 14, 2024. Ron is survived by his best friend, Andi Harmon; his daughter, Vicky (Ken) Adams of Corbett, Ore.; his son, Glen (Jane) Shelley of Burns; his daughter, Alissa (Darst) Atherly of Burns; his son, Curt (Elizabeth) Shelley of Tillamook; grandchildren, Monel Bilant, Wyatt Shelley, Megan Kurkinen, Jacob Adams, Lucas Adams, Reagan Shelley, Kellen Shelley, Anika Atherly and William “Jax” Atherly; 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by half siblings, Larry, Melita, Frank and Gary.

A memorial service will be held Friday, May 31, 2024, at 2 p.m., at the Elks Lodge in Burns, where he was one of the longest standing members in Harney County. A graveside service will be held in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho on Saturday, June 1, at 10 a.m. PT. In lieu of flowers, Ron’s requested donations be sent to Crane Union High School FFA or Burns High School FFA.