Ryan Armstrong Custer

Ryan was a graduate of Bowie High School and attended the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Texas at Austin. Ryan’s passion was music and he was an accomplished musician. Ryan played saxophone in the award winning Baily Middle School and Bowie High School Wind Ensembles. He was also a member of both schools’ jazz ensembles and the whole family enjoyed watching Ryan perform at concerts, football games and special events. Ryan aspired to make music his life. He had a beautiful, soulful singing voice and had the gift to play most any instrument he picked up. Ryan also wrote and composed many songs. He enjoyed playing guitar in his bands Ethereal and Kemly with his friends Andrew, Adam, Walter and Scott at venues around Austin including performances on 6th Street. If ever there was a person to be born and raised in the Live Music Capital of the World it was Ryan. He was a deeply philosophical young man, had a heart of gold and was kind to everyone he knew. He was a role model for how one should treat their fellow man.

Ryan is preceded in death by Great Grandmother GG, Grandmother Judy, Grandmother Emmy and Grandfather Dod.

Ryan is survived by his parents Deanna and Brice Custer and Brothers Thomas and Garrett all of Austin, Texas and his Grandfather John and wife Marty of Jacksonville, Fl.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 29, 2013 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home; with a Candlelight Celebration of Life Service to follow at 7:00 p.m.

The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to Jack Bacon and Trae Gilbert who devoted their time and energy to helping Ryan and giving him a chance to succeed in life. The family would also like to thank Dakota Caddell, Adam Baumeister and Eric Hull for their close friendships with Ryan. Ryan loved you all like brothers. Ryan had many other close friends and we are thankful for the fellowship he shared with them. Ryan will forever be in our hearts and minds and know he is now happy making beautiful music with the angels in Heaven.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ryan’s memory to The Austin Jazz Workshop by visiting www.austinjazzworkshop.com or mail contributions to The Austin Jazz Workshop, P.O. Box 41052, Austin, Texas 78704, please note on the check memorandum line, In Memory of Ryan Custer.

“Twenty years of silence dawned upon me, The calling of my soul longing to be free, The comfort of an angel, The only way satisfactory” Ryan Armstrong Custer