Dr. Stephen Don Ruyle

Dr. Stephen Don Ruyle, 70, passed away peacefully at his home on May 8, 2024.
Steve was born on October 5, 1953, to Donald R. and Janice Reynolds Ruyle in Wichita Falls. He was a proud graduate of Wichita Falls High School, and an even prouder member of the 1971 Coyote football team that competed in the first ever game played at Texas Stadium. He made many lifelong friends during his high school years and most importantly met the love of his life, Camille Burlison, who he courted until they married on April 7, 1979.
After high school, Steve attended the University of Texas and was thrilled to be accepted to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston after his junior year of college, foregoing his college graduation and escaping a harder-than-anticipated Spanish class that threatened to lower his GPA. Following his graduation from UTMB, he was accepted to a residency program in orthopaedic surgery at Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas, where the young couple made even more lifelong friends. In Temple, Steve and Camille welcomed their first two daughters, Allison and Melanie, before returning to Wichita Falls, where Steve established his surgical practice in 1984 and they welcomed their third daughter, Valerie, in 1985. Steve maintained a solo practice for many years before becoming a founding partner of Orthopaedic Sports Therapy Center (OSTC) in 2002. He enjoyed leading the amazing team at OSTC for many years until he retired.
Outside of work, Steve loved hunting and enjoying the land on the family ranch or soaking in the 'best view on the lake' at his home on Possum Kingdom. He had a passion for training and hunting with his beloved bird dogs. One of his greatest joys was planning family vacations, spending weeks researching the next adventure and making sure that every day and meal was the best possible experience for all. He especially loved ski trips to some of the greatest locations in North America and the annual summer trip to Crested Butte. He also loved cooking and hosting friends, and he enjoyed a long-standing tradition of the "Wednesday Night Supper Club" at the round table with the best of friends.
Steve spent much of his life surrounded by women, including the family dogs, but he rarely complained. He was incredibly proud of his girls and was a source of encouragement, support, and high expectations, doing everything in his power to ensure his girls were educated, empowered, and self-sufficient. And while he loved his daughters, he was even more ecstatic to become "Pops" to his four grandsons and two granddaughters, who brought him an abundance of joy over the past twelve years. Above all, he treasured his wife of 45 years, Camille, who made his beautiful life possible.
Steve taught us many lessons during this time on earth, but some of the most important ones were to 'never let the truth get in the way of a good story' and to remember 'there are many ways to tithe'. He knew the importance of friendship, service, and community, and those values live on in his family. He leaves a great legacy.
Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Don and Janice Ruyle, and son-in-law Geoffrey Lerew.
Steve is survived by his wife, Camille, and daughters Allison (Will) Blocker, of Fort Worth, Melanie Lerew, and Valerie (Andrew) Halverson of Wichita Falls, grandchildren Randall, James, and Nora Beth Halverson, David and Henry Lerew of Wichita Falls, and Anne Blocker of Fort Worth, siblings Stan Ruyle, Jeff (Lori) Ruyle, and Janet (Mike) Thomas, and many nieces and nephews.
The family is holding a private service to honor his memory. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Boy Scouts of America Northwest Texas Council or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.