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Mimi Ryan Obituary
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Mimi was preceded in death by her father, Sam Levy; mother, Esther Levy; and sister, Shirley Levin, (Samuel).
Mimi was survived by her spouse of 34 years, Dr. George Ryan Jr.; son, Michael Minns, (Michelle); daughter Cathy Minns Christiansen, (James); daughter, Mitzi Minns Snell, (Thomas); son, Myles Richard Minns, (Kathy); grandson, Mike Minns, (Katherine); granddaughter, Tamara Snell, (Dane Adams); granddaughter, Tara Snell McDonald, (James); granddaughter, Samantha Minns; grandson, Mike Minns; grandson, Jourdan, (Elizabeth); great granddaughter, Aria Minns-Fink; great grandson, Solomon Minns-Fink; great granddaughter, Zohara Minns-Fink; great granddaughter, Lauren Minns; great grandson, Ethan Mount; great grandson, Gabriel Mount; great granddaughter, Leah McDonald; great grandson, Luke McDonald; stepson, Bruce Ryan, (Karen); stepdaughter, Valerie Meitzler, (Derk); grandson, Michael Meitzler; and granddaughter Mackenzie Meitzler.
Mimi was effervescent. She sparkled like the bubbles on a glass of fine champagne. She was an amazing wife, friend, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grand mother, and confidant. We were lucky to have the chance to know and love her.
Mimi grew up in Kansas City, Missouri with her parents, Sam and Esther Levy, and older sister Shirley. They had a large extended family. The family moved to Nacogdoches, Texas, when Mimi was about eight years old. Mimi said she developed her Southern accent on the drive down. Mimi had a lifelong love of Texas, and her favorite flower was the yellow rose.
Mimi attended the University of Texas where she excelled in drama and was a drum majorette. She graduated with her MRS degree.
Mimi and her first husband, Richard Minns, started the Ace Rican health club chain. Richard was working in advertising: when his largest client went bankrupt, rather than leave with nothing, they took over eight clubs in Houston. Mimi convinced "Dick" that they could do it, and turned the name of the bankrupt club into the name "Ace Rican." They opened up with no additional capital. Years later the successful chain morphed into Presidents Club, an exclusive high end health club for male entrepreneurs in Texas, to get fit and perhaps make a business deal. Later it expanded into "The First Lady" an exclusive women's club, which emulated Mimi's athletic build and career. The chain became immensely successful and eventually became the first health club to go public.
Ultimately Bally bought out the club chain. One particular machine, the Dorsey bar, was redesigned by Mimi, and named the Texas Dorsey bar, for building back muscles. Mimi also designed the first model spa used in health clubs. Mimi was often referred to as "The First Lady." It was the single most successful health club in the State of Texas. The club also staged a series of public events including boxing matches. Mickey Brown, the former State Middle Weight Champion, coached the team and won numerous golden gloves championships including two championships in 1969.
Mimi had many interests and she loved sports. She played baseball as a child and took her kids to the Astros games in Houston. She bowled, water skied, snow skied, played tennis, and golf. She was very well coordinated.
Mimi was always there for her kids. She never missed her son, Mike's boxing matches and son, Myles' football games. She loved socializing and was a keen partner in crime during her daughter Cathy's dating years. Mimi also loved the arts and never missed a play or musical performance by her daughter, Mitzi. Though she worked a lot, Mimi was always there for important events in her kids lives.
Mimi took many amazing trips with her kids and grandkids. She loved having all of her kids' friends over. She was loved by all of their friends in turn.
Mimi loved to throw political parties both during her time in Houston and in Hot Springs. She was known for picking the winning candidate to support. Everyone knew that if Mimi threw a party for a candidate, they would win.
Mimi made a friend, Diane Richardson, who introduced her to the Dixieland jazz circuit. It was through her enjoyment of jazz that she met the love of her life, Dr. George Ryan. Together, they sparkled and danced like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Mimi gave lavish Jazz parties and George led the band with his cornet, sense of timing, and good humor. They traveled the globe and were a joyful, loving team.
Visitation will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, May 16th at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home.
A Celebration of Mimi's Life will follow at 2:00 PM.
Everyone is invited to meet at the Purple Cow at 4:30 PM.
Online condolences at www.caruth-hale.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mimi, please visit our floral store.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
Miriam Kalman Friedman
May 5, 2025
Mimi was an icon in our family, a legend even in childhood. I grew up hearing stories of how precocious she was, claiming she´d be rich and famous someday. Whereas families often dismiss such childhood dreams, I remember everyone taking Mimi seriously! No one doubted her charm and determination.
My mama, AKA Frances Levy, claimed she chose the name for Esther and Sam Levy´s second daughter. Frances would have been about 14 when her niece was born, and she loved the name Miriam. Miriam Joan Levy, my aunt and uncle agreed, was the perfect name. Indeed, Mama loved the name so much, she gave me the same name some 11 years later.
My earliest memory of us two Miriams is that Miriam Levy was called Mimi. So when I came along, the family called me Little Mimi as compared to Big Mimi. When I was old enough to understand the implications, I rebelled. I didn´t want to be "Little" anything, so I insisted the family call me Miriam. Big Mimi never got over that. Even in recent years, Mimi complained that I was foolish to give up the perfect moniker only to settle for a less clever name. In more recent years, we began calling one another Mimi 1 and Mimi 2 when we´d be together or visit by phone.
Mimi was clever, beautiful, and talented. Her stand-up portrait in her drum major costume held a prominent spot in the Levy household in Nacogdoches; I found it dazzling.
When Mimi met Dick Minns at the University of Texas in Austin, she met a man with similar plans-to become rich and famous. They fell madly in love, so much so, that Mimi left college and came to Houston to work and save money for their future while Dick finished his degree. Lucky for me, she moved into our house on Wichita, and we shared a bedroom. Once again, I was dazzled.
Two major memories of that period come to mind. First, during her time with us, I had a birthday, and Mimi gave me a book of paper dolls. I was so excited, it meant so much to me, I had a hard time cutting them out to play. I wanted to keep them pristine.
The second memory is when Dick would come to town to visit. When he´d bring her back home from dates, Mimi would stand next to the car talking to Dick and Herby and I would run around the car singing, "Mimi loves Dick, Mimi loves Dick." Annoyed, I am sure, they would laugh at our antics and shush us away.
The last time I spoke with Mimi, she recalled that story and sang our childhood tune. In her memory, I´m singing it now with new lyrics: "Mimi 2 loves Mimi 1." And she always will.
May 2, 2025
Miriam Kalman Friedman
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Q Hurst
May 3, 2025
Mimi was a great friend. Always positive and upbeat she would enter a room and immediately command all the attention. She was one of a kind and will certainly be missed.
Q. Byrum Hurst
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