THOMAS MAC RYAN

Aug. 22, 1951 - Sept. 7, 2010 On Tuesday, September 7, 2010 Thomas Ryan of Osceola, Missouri, was killed in a traffic accident involving two other persons who also died as a result of the collision. Tom was working as semi-tractor trailer driver for True Value Distribution Center at the time of the accident, where he has been employed for ten years. Tom had many family members and friends, including two who he has known since grade school, Melvin Macko and Steve Hennen. Tom's greatest joy was meeting his soul mate, Deborah, marrying, and moving to the country where they shared a 22-acre farm with four dogs. Their farm was his pride and joy and a source of peace in his life and has been designated as a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation. Tom's love of animals was obvious to anyone who knew him; he would stop in the middle of the road to move migrating turtles out of harms way and captured mice alive and released them unharmed back into the wild. Tom was a spiritual, positive person and truly appreciated the many blessings he enjoyed in his later life. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Billy J. and Lois Ryan, of Kansas City. Tom leaves behind his wife, Deborah Cochran Ryan; and his siblings: Debra Chavez, of Williams, Arizona; Melissa Linn, Ramona Greer, and Kathy Rizor, all living in the Kansas City area; Tom's daughter, Ivy Koch, and grandson, Josh, reside in Las Vegas, Nevada. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 14, at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 West 47th Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Tom requested that his cremated remains be scattered at his farm by family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: Osceola Veterinarian Services, PO Box 313, Osceola, MO 64776.