Wallace Clark Roney

March 16, 1946 – July 6, 2025

He handed his reins over to his Heavenly Father

Wallace Clark Roney, known to friends and family as Wally, rode off into the sunset for the last time to be with his Heavenly Father on July 6^th 2025. 

Wally was born on March 16, 1946 to Elwin Archibald Roney and Emily Uhl Roney in Chico, CA at Enloe Hospital.

A graduate of Cal Poly in Ag business, he had numerous awards and recognition over the years. He was an industry leader whose focus was always on how to do things better and make the seemingly impossible work.

Wally’s passing signals the end of an era that will never be matched. He was a mountain of a man with a heart to match. A fifth-generation cattle rancher, he was a cowboy’s cowboy and also a rancher with a rare and sharp business insight. Wally’s early life included not only school but the responsibilities of an adult. While some today would likely consider it child abuse, Wally was outside working alongside the men on the ranch at a very young age. Sometimes school got in the way when it came time to trail cattle to the mountains, but Wally was completely committed as a youngster, a dedication that only strengthened with time. 

Wally honed lifetime skills training phenomenal horses and also as a rodeo cowboy while at Cal Poly. He spent time training the cattle so that gathering and working them went smoothly for us and “the girls”.

Wally had many firsts to be proud of in the industry covering a wide range of topics from genetics, nutrition and feeding, range management by grazing and breed selection to mining, timber and water issues. He notably decided it was time to go to Washington DC back in the late 80’s to warn the Department of the Interior that our forests would someday burn to the ground if changes weren’t made in their management. As with so many issues, his insights were uncanny.

Wally’s work ethic was second to none.  Even as his health betrayed him, he studied the markets daily and would climb on his four-wheeler to check “the girls” right until he could no longer move. He was always grateful for the opportunity he had been given to take care of and improve the land and the cattle. Nothing was impossible for Wally. His innate curiosity led him to so many revelations. He always said he learned something new every day.  There are so many “Wallyisms” but the most profound was “You have to know what you don’t know”. Never a pushover for armchair quarterbacks, Wally treasured those who “knew” what they didn’t know and wanted to learn. 

He is survived by his wife Billie Jean, sister Catherine Jane Oviedo, son Jaret, daughter Sally Roney, and grandchildren Eric, Tyler, Gigi and Joy Roney, and Austin, George and Ani Knox and great- granddaughter London.

Graveside Service:  July 31, 2025   10:00 AM at Pine Creek Cemetery located on Broyles Road off of Highway 99 in North Butte County.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Butte Home Health Hospice or any of the many programs supporting youth in agriculture. Arrangements are entrusted to Brusie Funeral Home in Chico, CA.