Lawrence Ronald Longmore

Lawrence Ronald Longmore, 75, known to most as Ron, passed away last Thursday, September 29, 2022 in Payson, Utah during an afternoon that was as peaceful and sunny as his disposition. His six-year battle with cancer demonstrated Ron’s courage in navigating life challenges with resilience, dignity, and an infallible sense of humor.

The youngest of eight children, Ron was born May 20, 1947 in Blackfoot, Idaho to Lester George and Estella May Anderson Longmore. He graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1965 before going on to attend Brigham Young University where he completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, and an internship that required him to live at the Ogden Fire Station and slide down the firefighters’ pole each morning.

On April 6, 1979, Ron married Linda Jean Baker, known to most as Jeannie, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. She was the love of his life, and together they raised four children in a loving, nurturing, and fun-filled home. Ron was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission in Finland for two and a half years. At that time, missionaries to Finland received no prior language training. Often considered to be one of the most challenging languages to learn, a running joke among Finns he encountered was that the only people capable of learning their language were “Finnish babies and Mormon missionaries.” He returned to Finland in 2015 where he surprised both himself and those he spoke with at his sustained proficiency in the language 45 years later. Ron served in the church as a Bishopric Counselor, High Priest Group Leader, Elders Quorum President, Ward Clerk, and Ward Executive Secretary both in his home ward and a student ward at BYU-Idaho.

In 1975, Ron was appointed as Personnel Director and Chief Deputy Clerk for Bonneville County. He served in that position until his appointment as Bonneville County Clerk on July 2, 1979. He was subsequently elected by the voters of Bonneville County to the position ten times. Ron served as a Bonneville County elected official longer than any other person in the county’s history. He was also the longest-serving County Clerk in Idaho. During his career, he was selected as one of the Outstanding Young Men of America, served on the board of the National Association of County Recorders and Clerks, and was elected as the President of the Idaho Association of County Recorders and Clerks. Upon announcing his resignation, he was surprised with a retirement celebration thrown by county officials and attended by guests from across Idaho. During the celebration, the Centennial Courtroom was renamed and dedicated as the Ronald Longmore Centennial Courtroom.

Ron’s talents and hobbies were as expansive as his interests. It was a well-known fact that he had an encyclopedic knowledge on just about any topic. Even in his final days, he would watch Jeopardy! and correctly respond to questions that the contestants themselves couldn’t answer. He was equally well known for his distinctive sense of humor. He had an arsenal of corny puns and witticisms at his disposal long before the concept of “dad jokes” was a thing.

He also found great joy in traveling. Whether he was paddling a dugout canoe to a remote village in the Panamanian jungle, braving the crowds in front of Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of the Queen on her birthday, or jumping on the back of a motorbike taxi as it weaved through Colombian traffic, Ron loved the journey. He enriched the travel experience for those around him with his adventurous attitude and curiosity about the world. Even in the midst of receiving intensive chemotherapy treatment, Ron continued to travel – at one point visiting London with his son who eventually had to request they slow down after he couldn’t manage to keep up with his dad’s breakneck pace.

Ron is survived by his wife, Jeannie, of Payson; his children, Jennifer (Jefferson) Bryce of Salem; David (Jessica) Longmore of Gallatin, Missouri; Ellisa (Travis) Wood of Payson; and Matthew Longmore of Washington, DC. He is also survived by 20 adoring grandchildren. Their many prayers on his behalf provided him peace and strength. Also surviving are his brother, Gary (LaRae) Longmore; sister, Carolyn (Don) Scott; brothers-in-law, Donald Nilsson and Johnny Fisher; and sister-in-law, Connie Longmore.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters (Mardene Gough, Vonda Fisher, Melba Nilsson, Diane Parkinson); brother (Dean Longmore); brother-in-law (Robert Parkinson); and parents-in-law, Utona and Ellis Baker, with whom he had a close relationship.

His funeral will be held at 1138 East 100 South, Payson, Utah, on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 11:30 AM. He will be interred at the Payson Cemetery, 400 North 800 East, Payson, Utah. The family will receive guests at the church before the service from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and again after the interment for a luncheon.

Funeral service will be livestreamed at https://walkermemorials.com/obituary/lawrence-longmore/ shortly before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 5, 2022. Click on the link.