Mr. Ronnie “Coach” McNease, age 58, of Colquitt died Thursday, April 15, 2010, at Miller County Hospital.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 20, at 6:00 p.m. at Miller County High School Football Field with Dr. Carl Marshall and Rev. Harold Burrell officiating.

Brandan McNease, Kyle McNease, Trey McNease, Ritchie McNease, David Helms, John Broadaway, and Pete Broadaway served as active pall bearers. Honorary pall bearers were be the members of his Sunday School class of Colquitt First Baptist along with Jason Houston, Frank Killingsworth, and Alan Ingram.

A private interment will follow at a later date.

After graduating from Miller County High School, Coach McNease attended the University of Georgia and Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College where he attained an associate degree in Education. He then graduated from Georgia Southwestern with a B.S. in education. Coach was an American History teacher, assistant football coach, head boys’ basketball coach, head track coach, and head tennis coach at Ravenwood Academy from 1973-1974. After Ravenwood, Coach taught heath, geography, science, and physical education at Southwest Georgia Academy in Damascus. He was also the assistant football coach, head boys’ basketball coach, head track coach, and head girls’ softball coach while at SGA. In 1980, Coach McNease returned to Miller County High School to teach American history, world history, math, sociology, and physical education. He served as head football coach, head boys’ basketball coach and head track coach. Coach received many honors during his teaching career. He was president and vice-president of Region 1-A, five time Region 1-A Coach of the Year, 2001 Assistant Coach of Georgia-Florida All-Stars, 2001 Star Teacher, 1997 Head Coach of North- South All-Stars, winner of the 1997 Sanford Bishop Congressional Merit Award, 1997 Colquitt Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year, 1990 Assistant Coach North-South All Stars, 1983 Star Teacher, and in 2001 was elected to G.A.C.A. Board. Coach Mc- Nease had an overall record of 179-80-1 including five region championships, four semifinal appearances, and one quarterfinal appearance. Coach McNease coached 20 players that went to college on football scholarships; five went to Division 1 Schools, and two went on to play in the NFL.

He is survived by his wife, Terrie Broadaway NcNease, Colquitt; two sons, Vic (Kayln) McNease, Athens, and Jim McNease, Ft. Hood, TX; four daughters, Jill (Benji) Addison, Leesburg, Beth (John) Jarrett, Atlanta, Jennifer (Jason) Berry, Leesburg, Katie Peters, Tifton; four grandchildren, Luke Addison, Lily Addison, Jace Berry, and Hallie Kate Berry; four brothers, Gene (Sandra) McNease, Thomasville, Lowell (Joyce) McNease, Colquitt, Wayne (Debbie) McNease, Leesburg, Jerry (Brenda) McNease, Colquitt; and a large number of nieces and nephews.

Coach was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Ozie McNease.

A scholarship fund is being set up in memory of Coach McNease. The family has asked in lieu of flowers to please make donations to PeoplesSouth Bank, PO Box 218, Colquitt, 39837: Attention Cile Askew.

Colquitt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.