Ryan was a 1996 graduate of Southside High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas and received his business degree from John Brown University. Ryan built his career in real estate development, where he served as the Dallas Managing Director for NexMetro Communities. He enjoyed his work and found great satisfaction in creating communities for people to call home.
Ryan was passionate about people and relationships. He had an uncanny ability to make anyone in a crowd feel connected. After knowing him for moments, strangers quickly became friends. He would use his charming smile and witty banter to establish connections. Ryan could make the most uneasy person in the room feel comfortable and accepted.
This charisma connected Ryan to his wife, Tarah. He described her as his greatest blessing and best friend. After many years of friendship, they dated in college and married June 14, 2003. They enjoyed traveling, entertaining and being surrounded by their many friends.
Ryan’s greatest joy was their daughter, Eme. His sense of humor, infectious laugh, and amazing smile will forever live on in her. They shared a fondness for being only children by being excessively doted on by their parents. Ryan loved to make Eme and her friends laugh by sharing a “good” dad joke.
When time allowed, Ryan could be found on the golf course. At seven-years-old, he picked up the sport with his favorite golfing buddy, his dad Brent. After attending the San Diego Golf Academy in Orlando, Florida, he became the assistant golf pro at Hardscrabble Country Club. His passion was teaching others to love the game as much as he did.
Unbelievable health obstacles over the past year and a half only strengthened Ryan’s faith and courage. While he had an infectious enthusiasm for life on Earth, he revealed an equal excitement towards everlasting life and heaven. May his attitude and endurance confronting his illness continue to be an example to us all.
Ryan leaves behind his wife, Tarah and daughter Emerson of Richardson, Texas. His loving parents, Debbie and Brent Griffis of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Father, Ronnie Mitchael and wife Christy of Fort Smith. Father-in-law, Jerry Bollin Jr., brother-in-law, Jerry Bollin III and wife Leslie of Fort Smith, sister-in-law Stacey Bearden and husband Daniel of Fort Smith and sister-in-law Alicia Clark and husband Tommy of Park City, Utah, 3 nephews, a niece, and many family members.
A celebration of Ryan’s life will be held at his church, Fellowship Dallas, 9330 N Central Expressway, on Thursday, September 23rd at 1pm. We kindly request those attending wear a mask.
In lieu of flowers, Ryan would have loved for donations to be made to charities close to his heart: First Tee of Greater Dallas https://www.firstteedallas.org/donate/ or Interfaith Family Services of Dallas https://interfaithdallas.org/get-involved/donate/
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