the Ryan Family
Kelly Ryan (on right)
Pack 145 wishes to remember our Cub Scout Webelos and friend by keeping this webpage active. Memories and these words below are true in our heart.
Kelly Ryan Funeral Kelly Ryan Memorial Fund
A fund has been set up by Good Shepherd Baptist Church (the Ryan Family's home church ) to help the family cover the tremendous costs incurred by Kelly’s hospitalization, care and funeral. Besides remaining in constant prayer, this is currently one of the best ways to help the Ryan Family.
Any note of encouragement or financial support may be sent to:
Kelly Ryan Memorial Fund
PO Box 398
Christiansburg, VA 24068
Donations are Tax Exempt and checks should be made out to Good Shepherd Baptist Church (write the Fund Name in the Memo Field) All Donations will go directly to support the Ryan Family during this trying time. Donations can also be made online by going to: www.GSBCfamily.org/KellyRyan
Obituary (appeared in 6/04/09 newspaper)
Ryan, Kelly Jacob, born on October 31, 1998, of Christiansburg, VA, passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2009, at UVA Medical Center. He was 10 years old and in the 4th grade at Christiansburg Elementary School. Kelly was a small soul with a big heart. His kindness and compassion touched many in his short life, and will continue to reach out even after his passing. He was an active member of Good Shepherd Baptist Church, in Christiansburg, as well as belonging to the Boy Scouts of America where he achieved the rank of Webelo. He loved his church family and his scouting friends. These two groups greatly influenced his life and encouraged and strengthened his faith. He was able to stand up for his beliefs at a very young age. He also enjoyed helping out in his church's nursery, being a big brother to many of the younger children. Kelly played the drums and sang in the church's childrens choir. He enjoyed spending time camping and fishing with his dad, cooking with his mom, playing games, acting and spending time with his sister. He had a servant's heart and volunteered for everything he could. Kelly is survived by his mother, Gwynne; father, Stephen; and sister, Kayleigh, as well as a very large extended family. He will be greatly missed until we are reunited in the arms of God.
Letter from Stephen Ryan written on May 31, 2009 This is probably the most difficult thing that I have ever sat down to write. This morning, at about 3:10 Kelly Ryan lost his battle with the HLH disease. He fought it hard, as best his body would allow, right up until the end.
God allowed us 10 wonderful years with Kelly in our lives and then called him home. I don’t know why, but God’s plan is perfect and His ways are not our ways. Our pastor summed it up nicely, I think. God did, in fact, heal Kelly. Just not the way we hoped He would. He is resting in God’s arms now…disease and pain free. It’s my strongly held belief that I will, someday, get to hold him tightly in a big ol’ hug again. I’d like to encourage each one of you…if you have a little one in your life, go love on them like never before. We are not promised even our next breath so make each and every second with them count. Don’t take even the smallest of moments for granted. And if you don’t know the peace of our Lord and Savior, please, please, please take this time to examine your life and give control of it to Him. With salvation there are no goodbyes and, even though our hearts break with the burden of losing Kelly, we are assured an eternity together in the glory of our Father, who is above all things is worthy to be praised.
Thank you…each of you…for your kind thoughts and prayers. They have sustained us in this most difficult time of our lives. And even though we will likely never know one another personally, please know that I’m personally grateful for each and every one of you.
In Christ,
Stephen Ryan