Dr. Ronald Ray Foreman, 77, of Lake City, Florida, beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and community leader, passed away following an extended illness on December 9, 2025.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sandra Carraway Foreman. He was preceded in death by his oldest son, John Christopher Foreman, in 2023. He leaves two sons, Joel (Michelle) Foreman of Lake City and Michael (Stephanie) Foreman of Lake City. He has six beloved grandchildren: John's daughters Elizabeth (Jonathan) White of Burleson, Texas and Catherine Foreman of St. Augustine; Joel's daughter Adrienne Foreman and son Joshua Foreman of Lake City; and Michael's daughters Emma Foreman and Macy Foreman of Lake City. He is also survived by two brothers, Don (Sue) Foreman of Des Moines, Iowa and John E. (Dee) Foreman of, Mill Creek, Washington, and three sisters, Vonnie (Laddie) Jobe,  Diane (Gary) Kesserling, and Becky (David) Presswood, all of Des Moines, Iowa.  He had many nieces, nephews, and extended family who knew him as their Uncle Ron.

Ron was born on January 20, 1948, in Des Moines, Iowa. Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. While he was working at Camp Pendleton in California, Ron met and married Sandra.  He was honorably discharged but was a Marine until the day he died.

Ron studied at the Illinois College of Optometry. After graduation in 1976, he moved to Lake City where he practiced optometry at the Lake City Eye Clinic. He purchased the practice and renamed it North Florida Eyecare, where Ron and his staff provided outstanding optometric care to patients across North Florida and South Georgia. He retired for good in 2023 but always felt a sense of pride when a patient would say they missed him after his retirement.

Ron dedicated himself to service throughout his life and believed in the value of volunteerism. He was a local chairman for the March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, and Columbia Public Schools Foundation, and was a director for the Chamber of Commerce and CARC. Ron was a proud, long-time member of Lake City Elks Lodge No. 893 and the Lake City Lion's Club.  Over the years he served on numerous state and local appointed government boards, most recently including the Lake Shore Hospital Authority Board of Trustees and the Columbia County Charter Review Commission.

He was named the Florida Optometric Association's "Optometrist of the Year" in 1982 and was subsequently appointed by the governor to the State Board of Optometry.  In 1990 he was recognized as the Florida Optometric Association's  "Optometrist of the Decade" for his efforts in expanding the role of optometrists in patient care. He was a career-long member of the Florida Optometric Association and served as its president in 2000.  He was a member of the Southeastern Council of Optometry International and served as president in 2013.  In 2015 he was awarded the Florida Optometric Association's "Lifetime Achievement Award". In 2017, he was induced into the Abraham Lincoln High School (Des Moines, Iowa) Hall of Fame.

He was a member of Epiphany Catholic Church for nearly fifty years, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and served on committees for Epiphany Catholic School. He served as a eucharistic minister for many years.

He loved rooting on the Florida Gators, fishing, the outdoors, spending time with his family, and all his friends at the Elks lodge.

Ron was a devoted husband and father, a doting grandfather, and a loyal friend to all who were lucky enough to earn his companionship. He was a dedicated public servant and leader who cared deeply about his community.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated for Ron on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. at Epiphany Catholic Church with Father Mike Williams, Celebrant. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 5:00-7:00 P.M. on Friday evening, December 12, 2025, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Ron's name be considered to Catholic Charities of Lake City, 553 NW Railroad Street, Lake City, Florida 32055 or to CARC – Advocates for Citizens with Disabilities, 512 SW Sisters Welcome Road, Lake City, Florida 32025.