Bob Ryan

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Bob Ryan, 70, of Jonesboro, died Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. A native and lifelong resident of Jonesboro, he formerly farmed and operated Ryan's Seed and Feed in Jonesboro but for the last several years was a Crye-Leike Realtor in Jonesboro. He was a member of Christian Valley Christian Church, a 1957 graduate of Valley View High School, and a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Arkansas National Guard. He was a past president of the Valley View School Board and a past member of the Valley View Ruritan Club. Ryan was a member of the Jonesboro Board of Realtors, Arkansas Real Estate Association and the National Association of Realtors.

He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Neva McDaniel and Fletcher Gilbert; his grandmother, Dicie McDaniel; a sister, Betty Peterson; and a brother, John Ryan.

Survivors include, a daughter and son-in-law, Stacy Ryan Shelton and Ron Shelton of Jonesboro; a son, Randall Ryan of Monette; his father and stepmother, Evans H. and Wanda Ryan of Chaffee, Mo.; two sisters, Carol Ryan Cannon of Chaffee, Mo., and Pat Doty of Salem; three brothers, Larry Gilbert of Russellville, David Gilbert of Carlsbad, N.M., and Donny Gilbert of Jonesboro; six grandchildren, Ryan Shelton, Reid Shelton, Andrea Crawford, Amanda Ryan, Michael Ryan and Brittany Ryan; and

two great-grandchildren, Noah Cook and Bailey Crawford.

Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at McDaniel Cemetery with David Gibson officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Emerson Funeral Home.

Active pallbearers were Jim Turney, Kagle Huff, Jack Wright, Steve Heath, Larry Sharp and Jim Davidson. Honorary pallbearers were Crye-Leike Realty associates, doctors, nurses and staff of NEA Baptist Hospital, Joyce Files, Steve Ryan, Grover Cooper and members of the Valley View High School 1956 Basketball State Championship team.

The family requests anyone wishing to leave a lasting memorial consider the Bob Ryan Scholarship Fund at Valley View School, c/o Radius Baker, 2131 Valley View Drive, Jonesboro 72404.