Ronald James Sager, 73, was called to Gods' team on Thursday, January 15, 2015. He was born in Tacoma, WA on June 4, 1941 to C. Earl and Pauline Sager. When he was young the family moved to Big Lake where he graduated from Sedro Woolley High in 1959. In 1963 he considered himself the luckiest man in the world when he married Nancy McSpadden and they started their family in the Seattle area. Ron started in the computer industry (back when a whole room of big machines did less than your iPhone) first for Boeing then for the Shoreline school district. He later worked weekends for friends the O'Brien's at The Turkey House. That became a full time career when he became manager then district manager of their growing restaurant chain. In 1978 he and Nancy (along with partners Paul and Carolynn) opened Sager's Restaurant in the old Iron Works building on College Way in Mount Vernon. The "regulars" as repeat customers were called soon became friends. The business quickly outgrew the small building and Sager's Homestead was opened in 1983 where "everyday was Thanksgiving Day". Ron and Nancy would eventually buy out the partnership. Ron could usually be found smiling while working in the kitchen in his trademark black pants and white shirt, or enjoying a meal at the round table in the bay window. He would sneak away in the afternoons to tinker on his latest project, only to return at five to work the dinner rush. The restaurant was sold and later closed in 2010 - the end of an era. The white shirts were replaced with pastel colored ones and retirement began. Ron and Nancy were members of Emmanuel Baptist church, where they grew up and attended for years. When the restaurant began opening for breakfast on Sundays they weren't able to go as often, but had the food ready when a good portion of the congregation showed up for lunch. After retirement they attended Christ the King church. Ron had numerous hobbies and it wasn't unusual for him to have multiple unfinished projects going at once. He loved his old cars ('57 Chevy) and working on the place at Big Lake. He built a hovercraft to see if it would fly (it did) and tried for years to figure out a perpetual motion machine. He would drop everything to fix a relatives car or whatever else was broken or just help where he could anytime he was asked. He was a gentle soul and he loved to tease. He would often tell you something, then get that slight smile and twinkle in his eye that let you know that "maybe" he was pulling your leg. He was an avid Seahawks fan even before they were good and stayed involved with his high school class and all of their reunions. He loved spending time with his family and it was hard for him that his kids and grandkids lived out of state and that he didn't get to see them enough. He followed their lives and was so proud of them all. Ron is survived by his soulmate, sidekick, loving wife, business cohort, meal sharer and dance partner of 51 years Nancy, two daughters and their husbands Deannie (and Mike) Simon of Hermiston, OR and Debi (and Scott) Krichbaum of Carlsbad, CA and 6 grandchildren Ryan, Cierra, Hayden, Justin, Tyler and Dylan, sister Barb (and Duane) Sturdy of Mount Vernon, brother Gary (and Suzanne) of Edmonds, brother Paul (and Carolynn) Sager of Lynnwood, little sister Sheri Sager of Mount Vernon, sister-in-law Paula Sager, brother-in-law Bruce McSpadden, sister-in-law Janet Haase, sister-in-law Diane Berry, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and hundreds of former employees he thought of as his "kids". Waiting to greet him at the pearly gates his parents C. Earl and Pauline Sager, step father Howard Foster, parents-in-law Ted and Bernice McSpadden and numerous aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends. Remembrances can be made to: Sedro-Woolley High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, PO Box 509, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 www.swhsaa.com Please join us for a celebration of Ron's life at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1515 East College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 1:00 P.M.