Dean Xavier Ryan

Dean Xavier Ryan was born in Fort Worth, Texas to Daniel Xavier and Irene Marie (Bonner) Ryan in 1952. He was born five years after his older sister Danille and five years before his baby sister Michele. Legend has it that his mischievous antics were often ignored because of his boyish good looks. He graduated from St. Thomas in 1970, attempted to go to Texas Tech and decided that college wasn’t what he wanted out of life. What he wanted was to change the world, to make it a better safer place…….so he decided to enroll in the Houston police academy in August of ’72. After graduating the Academy, he began his career in traffic enforcement. He left traffic enforcement and moved to the Northeast Division for the remainder of his career. Dean proudly served as a Houston Police officer for 25 years.

In 1981 he married the love of his life and “bestest” friend, Beverly Barttlingck. He went on to spend the next 37 years making sure that she was taken care of. He was an incredibly hard worker, working countless overtime jobs and saving every penny he could.

A country boy at heart, he raised cows for beef and chickens for eggs.

He and his wife rode the trail ride for several years with the Yegua Riders from Somerville. He had plans of retiring and building a house on the property he bought in Kosse, Texas. After buying the property he spent numerous weekends working on the land, and helping the neighbors farm their fields, while learning as much as he could. As time went on he found another hobby that peaked his interest and discovered his talent of being a pit master. Ever the opportunist, he decided to start selling his briskets, turkey legs and pork loin sandwiches at fairs and festivals.

To be loved by Dean was an honor, and it wasn’t bestowed upon just anyone. He loved his family fiercely and ferociously. He was a genuine, hard working, loyal man with a comedic wit and a knack for sarcasm. Being the professional jokester that he was, meant you were never bored in his presence. You could often look over at him and see his blue eyes sparkling with a dimpled grin on his face, and you couldn’t wait to hear what was about to come out of his mouth.

He never met a four legged animal that he didn’t like, but his passion for horses and dogs was unmatched. After he laid his Labrador, Orion down in 2004, he vowed to never own another “heartbreaker” again; but that didn’t stop him from buying dog treats to keep at his house, so he could take them when he visited his granddoggers, or the mechanic’s dog, or even dogs being walked in his neighborhood.

His one and only granddaughter, Grace stole his heart the minute she was born. It was quite a sight to see this tall burly man turn to mush every time that little girl looked at him. With butterfly/Eskimo kisses and popsicles by the pool, she made his days brighter and his smile bigger. She will always be his midget and he will forever be her “Chopped Liver”. He is preceded in death by his parents. Dean is survived by his wife of 37 years, Beverly; daughter Amy Voyles (David), granddaughter Grace Voyles and step grandson Damion Voyles. He is also survived by his sister Danille Kliewer (Gene), nephew Donald Kliewer. His sister Michele Davis (Danny), niece Heather Fregia, nephew Timothy Davis, and niece Meredith Davis, as well as numerous other extended family and friends.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, March 2nd at 10 AM at Heights Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in his name to Houston Retired Police Officers Burial Fund.

Sweet Boy, Sweet Boy you will be missed every day, thank you for sharing your life and love with us.