Wiley

Ronald Craig “RC” Wiley of Rockdale passed away Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, at the age of 74 years.

He was born in Houston, to Nolan Wiley and Gladys LaNell Brock Wiley on Dec. 10, 1947.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nolan and Nell; maternal grandparents, John Henry and Della Brock; paternal grandparents, John and Gertie Wiley; and his brother, Nolie B Wiley.

He is survived by his devoted partner of many years, Charlotte Zannelli; his children, Karen Wiley Mclamb and husband David, Jan Wiley and partner Damon “Bigun” Burlin, Jennifer Zanelli and partner Sharon Cohen, and Christopher Zannelli; his grandchildren, Granger Lee Armentrout, Jackson and William Mclamb, Sorrel Coyle and husband Mitchell, Rider Burlin and fiance Courtlyn Patranella, Isabel Burlin; and a great-grandchild, Hallie Ann Coyle.

Ronnie lived and worked in Rockdale most of his life.

Fascinated at a very young age by the auctioneers in the local livestock barns, he would often hitchhike to Oscar Heller’s cattle auction in Lexington. Seeing the frequent and ceaseless interest and excitement on this kid’s face as he watched auction after auction, auctioneer Jack Simonton began to help Ronnie work on projecting his voice, rolling his numbers and developing his own unique auctioneer’s “rattle.” When he was just 12 years old, Mr. Heller started letting him practice by selling the cattle resales at the end of the day. Ronnie was hooked.

He graduated from the Reisch American School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa, in the summer of 1966 when he was 18 years old.

With hard work and a lot of support from family and friends, he grew Wiley Auction Co. into something he could be proud of.

He has been a member of the Texas Auctioneers Association since 1972 and held numerous positions in TAA and the National Auctioneers Association. He was awarded Texas Grand Champion Auctioneer and was voted into the Texas Auctioneers Hall of Fame.

As is true for most, life had its ups and downs but Ronnie handled it all with grit, determination and a good bit of bourbon right up to the end.

Ronnie’s family has been comforted by the love and support of friends and family that truly stood the test of time.

A celebration of his life will be held at the New Salem Building at Fair Park in Rockdale this Saturday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. Fajitas and a little bourbon will be served.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that friends please consider a donation in Ronnie’s name to the American Lung Association.