Companion Ronald K. Blue was born in 1945 at Boca Raton, Florida. After serving in the U.S. Army for three years, he studied Political Science at Illinois State University who awarded him the degree of master of science. He pursued a career in market research and management consulting with State Farm Insurance Company. On 24 August 1968, he married the former Janet McClellan. He is survived by Janet, their two children and three grand children.

On 22 December 2009, our beloved companion was taken from us by lymphoma. A wake was held was held, and Masonic funeral rites performed, on Monday evening, 28 December, in Bloomington. Ron's impact on the fraternity and the love that was felt for him were displayed by the over-capacity crowd assembled at his wake and the seemingly endless procession of brethren laying evergreen sprigs upon his casket. A Roman Catholic funeral mass was held the following morning, and his remains are interred at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, in Bloomington.

Brother Blue was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in August 1981, in Mackinaw Lodge No. 132, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Illinois, in Mackinaw; served as Worshipful Master of Normal Lodge No. 673 in the years 1989-1990 and of Mackinaw Lodge No. 132 in 2004-2006. He also served as Worshipful Master of the Illinois Lodge of Research in 1987, and as its secretary from 1989 until his death in 2009. He was the recipient of the Alfonse Cerza Award and the Andrew Torok Award from that lodge. He served the Grand Lodge, AF&AM of the State of Illinois in several capacities.

Grand Lodge Committee Positions:

• Leadership Committee – Chairman and member of Committee from 1989 to 2004

• Public Awareness Committee – Chairman for two years

• Membership Committee – Chairman for four years

• Education Committee – Chairman and member of Committee for several years

• Blue Lightning Committee – Chairman and Co-Chairman from 1998-2003

• Board of Grand Examiners – 1998

• Board of Managers – Illinois Masonic Foundation – 7 years

• Masonic Homes Endowment – 2 years

• Programme Committee – Chairman for 3 years

Our Right Excellent Deputy Grand High Priest was advanced to the degree of Mark Master and exalted to the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason, both on 14 January 1989 in Bloomington Chapter No. 26 in Bloomington, where he served as Excellent High Priest in 2004, and over whom he served as the Area Coordinator for the District Deputy Grand High Priests in his area. He joined the line of Grand Officers of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Illinois on 29 July 2005 as Excellent Grand Master of the 3rd Veil, and was elected and installed Right Excellent Deputy Grand High Priest on 31 July 2009. He held the Certified Ritualist Jewel with two bars, recognising his achievements in First Level of Proficiency, Mark Master degree ritual, and Virtual Past Master degree ritual, in the Certified Lecturers’ Programme of the Grand Chapter; and he was one of the instructors of the Grand Chapter’s DDGHP/Secretary schools of instruction. He served on several Grand Chapter committees, including the Finance Committee, Fiscal Officers Fund Board of Managers, and the Royal Arch Masons Charitable Foundation, Inc.'s Board of Directors. He was the editor of the Grand Chapter’s magazine, Hiram Words, from its launch in July 2007, through June 2009. He was instrumental in the movement to rejoin the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, International.

At the Annual Convocation of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Illinois held on 30 July 2010, Most Excellent Past Grand High Priest Frank H. Welter, who had appointed Ron to the Grand Officers' line, put forth a special motion calling for Ron to be posthumously granted the title, Most Excellent Honorary Past Grand High Priest. The motion passed with enthusiastic unanimity.

Companion Blue was greeted as a Select Master on 14 January 1989 in Bloomington Council No. 43, Cryptic Masons of Illinois, of which he served as Thrice Illustrious Master in the years 2004-2005, and in which he received the degree of Super Excellent Master on 20 March 2004. He was appointed and commissioned a Level 1 Certified Ritualist in 2003, holding that commission until his death.

Ron was dubbed and created a Knight of the Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple in DeMolay Commandery No. 24, Knights Templar of the State of Illinois, on 11 March 1989 in Bloomington, serving as its Eminent Commander in the years 2003-2004.

In recognition of his being a Past Master, Past High Priest, Past Thrice Illustrious Master, and Past Eminent Commander, Sir Knight Blue was received into Illinois Priory No. 11 as a Knight of the York Cross of Honour on 29 July 2005. He was ordained into Lily of the Valley Tabernacle XLVI, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests on 12 October 2008.

He received the degrees of the Order of the Eastern Star in Mystic Tie Chapter No. 245 in Mackinaw in 2001; was installed into the degree of Knight of the East and West in Earl of Torrell Council No. 24, Knight Masons U.S.A., in 1991; was initiation into Shadrock Bond Council No. 272, Allied Masonic Degrees, in Bloomington, on 27 May 2005; was created a Knight of York in Central Illinois York Rite College No. 42, in 1992; and joined the Grand College of Rites in 1994.

Companion Blue was created a 32° Scottish Rite Freemason and Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret in the Valley of Bloomington in November 1981; where he served as Sovereign Prince of Zerubbabel Council, Princes of Jerusalem, in 1989, and as Commander-in-Chief of Bloomington Consistory, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret in 2005-2007. In recognition of his outstanding service to Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite, he was coroneted a 33° Freemason and Inspector General Honorary on 3 October 1995 by the Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the 33rd and Last Degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America. He was further honoured with induction into the Provincial Grand Lodge of the U.S., Royal Order of Scotland, in August 2004.

Ron became a member of Gen. John J. Pershing Order No. 24 of the Sword of Bunker Hill in Peoria on 8 March 2008. He was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in Mohammed Shriners, A.A.O.N.M.S., in August 1986, and was a member of Mohammed Shriners’ Legion of Honour, McLean County Shrine Club and the Royal Order of Jesters from 2004 until his death.