Patsy Mullins Ryan

Patsy Lou Mullins Ryan, 83 of Banner, Kentucky, passed away peacefully at home on February 3, 2025.
Patsy Lou Mullins Ryan was born December 9,1941 in Welch, West Virginia to the late John and Grace Mullins. Patsy graduated from Clintwood High School in Clintwood, Virginia in 1960 and married Joe Carroll (Skip) Ryan that same year. Patsy and Joe made their home in Alexandria, Virginia until moving to Prestonsburg, Kentucky in 1974.
Patsy was predeceased by her parents and her husband of 61 years. She was also predeceased by three brothers, James Teddy, Jerry Lee, and Jackie Van Mullins.
Left to sustain her memory are two daughters, Kathy Jo Ryan, Banner, Kentucky and Kristy Jane Ryan Goodwin (Brian), Nicholasville, Kentucky, her granddaughter, Destiny Morgan Kesler (Josh) and their son, Tennyson Range Kesler Prestonsburg, Kentucky.
She is also survived by sisters Peggy Mullins and Jenea Mullins, Clintwood, Virginia, and Jo Ann Chase,Wytheville, Virginia. Brothers Johnny (Patty) Mullins, Martinsville, Virginia and Michael (Rita) Mullins, Clintwood, Virginia. Additionally, she is survived by a host of nieces and nephews, who loved and admired her. She was Aunt Patsy to three generations of children in both the Mullins and Ryan families.
Patsy was frequently described as being sassy, feisty, and hard-working. In response to her ability to delegate and get things done, her late husband gave her the nickname "The Little General." While these descriptions are accurate, she had a big heart and was also known for being kind, compassionate, and helpful.
She was an incomparable, loving mother and a fantastic homemaker. Her daughters say she hosted hundreds of sleepovers for them, her granddaughter, as well as nieces, nephews and children from her church. Patsy enjoyed and was good at sewing, making many dresses for her daughters and clothes for their dolls. Over the years, Kathy and Kristy participated in various extracurricular activities and Patsy often volunteered to make or alter uniforms for these activities, not only for her daughters but for other members of those groups, too. Her Christmas candies and cubed steak and gravy were enjoyed by many. She loved making her yard beautiful with flowers and plants.
Patsy worked with the Floyd County Housing Authority for 25 years, serving as the Executive Director for the last 15 years of her career. Her dear friend and former co-worker Judy Flannery, said, "Patsy was excellent at her job as Executive Director and was a great leader for the team she supervised." Under Patsy's leadership, her team won several awards for Section 8 housing, including Apartments of the Year and were able to break ground on a new housing development, Creek Side Apartments in Mud Creek, Kentucky. Patsy wrote and was awarded a grant to build an apartment above the Prestonsburg Fire Department to house displaced families. Recognizing the need for affordable housing for the elderly in Floyd County, Patsy worked hard to obtain grants to build Hope Homes in Left Beaver, Kentucky to help address this need. This apartment complex was built using only the money from these grants. This was the project that she considered to be her greatest professional accomplishment.
Patsy was a member of the Prestonsburg Church of Christ for 50 years. Patsy was also a member of the Floyd County Homemakers Club. She, along with her husband Joe, worked to improve the quality of life in their community. They organized semi-annual clean up missions in their neighborhood. Patsy successfully petitioned to get water lines and fire hydrants installed in their neighborhood of Banner, Kentucky. Patsy was very active in the women's group WINGS, at her church. Patsy always offered a word of comfort or encouragement to women who were grieving a divorce or death of a loved one. She spent many hours walking and talking with family and friends. She even acted as birthing coach for her niece, Teresa Robinette.
When thinking of Patsy's commitment to her family, friends, and community, one is reminded of a quote, attributed to Fred Rogers, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Throughout her life, Patsy was a helper and leaves behind a great legacy which inspires us to have compassion for others and work hard to make the world a better place.
Visitation and service will be held at the Prestonsburg Church of Christ, 88 KY-1428 Prestonsburg, Kentucky with Shawn Slone officiating. Visitation will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, February 7, 2025. The family will receive visitors beginning at 12 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2025, and the service will begin at 1 p.m. Burial will occur following the service at Gethsemane Gardens, Prestonsburg, Kentucky.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Soul Food, a local charity fighting childhood hunger. Donations can be sent to 5204 KY Route 321 Prestonsburg, Kentucky 41653 or at htttps://www.soulfoodkentucky.com.
Nelson Frazier Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.