Ronnie Mac (Roach) Birdsong

Ronnie Mac Roach Birdsong
June 12, 1945 – April 22, 2025

Ronnie Mac Roach Birdsong, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2025, in Amarillo, Texas, surrounded by her loving family. She was 79 years old.

Ronnie was born on June 12, 1945, in Plainview, Texas. She spent her early childhood in Pampa, Texas, attending elementary and middle school there before graduating from Plainview High School in 1962. She went on to earn her degree in Psychology from Wayland Baptist University and later received her MBA from West Texas State University.

While working toward her MBA, Ronnie was a single mother of two—an experience that shaped her strong sense of purpose and dedication to empowering women. Throughout her life, she advocated for the advancement of women, founding the Southern Arkansas Women’s Network in Magnolia, Arkansas, and participating in WISK (Women I Should Know) in Portales, New Mexico.

While living in Plainview, Ronnie served as the department head for the college Sunday school class at First Baptist Church, a role through which she touched many lives and built lasting connections with students she continued to mentor and stay in contact with for years to come.

Ronnie was also a passionate animal advocate and Yorkie lover. She and her husband Jon rescued many Yorkies over the years and served on the board of National Yorkie Rescue. Her love for animals was matched only by her love of gardening and cooking—activities she most enjoyed sharing with Jon. Together, they built a life centered around compassion, joy, and family.

Ronnie was a woman of quiet strength, unwavering faith, and warm humor. She loved to travel, cherished time spent with her family, and never missed an opportunity to offer support, wisdom, and encouragement to those around her.

As a career educator, Ronnie served in executive positions at three institutions: West Texas A&M University (1983-1992), Southern Arkansas University (1992-2001), and Eastern New Mexico University (2001-2017). At each of these schools, she immersed herself in student development  activities and mentored junior level employees. 

At WT, Ronnie served as executive assistant to two presidents and taught marketing in the College of Business. At SAU, she was executive assistant to the president and directed the student recruitment program, Physical Plant, and community outreach programs.

During her time at ENMU, Ronnie served as vice president for University Relations and Enrollment services. Perhaps her most impressive accomplishment was the role she played in  increasing student enrollment from 3500 to 6100 during her tenure.

She was preceded in death by her infant daughter Constance Pearl Hutcherson, her grandparents Vera and Herbert Castleberry and Inez and Stanley Roach, her father Raymond "LaVern" Roach, her stepfather Robert Weldon “Birdog” Trice, and two brothers, Terry Nelson Trice and Richard James Roach.

She is survived by her loving husband Jon of Portales, NM; her children Ronda Stockmyer (John) of Enid, OK, Michael Hutcherson of Spicewood, TX, and Jon Birdsong (Ilse) of Antwerp, Belgium; her cherished grandchildren Nolan Riggin of Enid, OK, and Billie Birdsong of Antwerp, Belgium; her mother Evelyn Trice of Canyon, TX; her brother Ted Trice (Buffi) of Canyon, TX; and one niece and five nephews.

A celebration of Ronnie’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on May 24, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Portales, New Mexico. A private family burial will take place at a later date in Plainview, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ronnie’s honor to an organization of your choice.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who were fortunate to know her.

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