John Richard Ryland

1945 - 2013

John Richard Ryland In his home, with his wife and children praying him through his transition, John passed on to his new home on December 4, 2013. The son of Jesse J. and Mary Jane Ryland, John was born on December 17, 1945 in Jacksonville, Florida where his father was stationed in the Navy. John graduated in 1964 from the Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tennessee and from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1968. He served in the Coast Guard for 22 years before retiring with the rank of Commander. John then joined the Port of Seattle as a Civil Engineer where he enjoyed his job and his coworkers immensely.

John loved life and lived it fully with integrity and purpose, vigor, generosity, and a wonderful sense of humor. He responded with enthusiasm and an emphatic "yes" each time God put it on his heart to reach out to others using his God given gifts, talents and abilities. Some of these "yeses" included 28 years as a foster parent, providing a home for immigrants, cooking meals and providing financial assistance for the care of persons without homes, reading books on tapes for college students who were blind, assisting with facility maintenance at church, and proclaiming God's Word at Mass.

John is survived by Martha, his wife of 44 years, his brother Michael Ryland of Memphis TN, his children Patrick Morris Ryland of Kent, WA, Stephen David Ryland of Renton, WA, and Theresa Ryland Warfield of Kent WA, and his grandchildren; Isaiah Michael Ryland, Jamie Gabriel Warfield, Virginia Marita Warfield, James Ronin Ryland, Sean Magnus Ryland, Michael Xavier Ryland, and David Ezekiel Ryland.

A Mass celebrating John's life was held December 13 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Kent followed by interment at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Kent. The family requests that remembrances be made to St. Martin de Porres shelter in Seattle or to Catholic Community Services.