Larry Wayne Ryan

October 16, 1944 to August 25, 2026

Larry always thought an obituary should include a person’s work, accomplishments, and

successes. But he also thought that if it read more like the story of your life, it would be so much

more interesting to read, focusing on the things that made a life full of joy and happiness.

So, here is Larry’s “story.”

Larry was born on a Monday at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston, Texas, to George and Opal

Ryan, the youngest of three children, after his brother Terry and sister Kay.

His education began at Eliot Elementary, then Kelso, followed by Cullen Junior High, and

finally Jesse H. Jones High School. Go Falcons!

He played football in junior high and high school, loved creating things in metal and wood shop,

and was a full-on cowboy in FFA, raising sheep as his projects.

When he continued his education at the University of Houston, it was his keen interest in a

drafting class he had taken in junior high, and continued through high school, that would

ultimately determine his career path. He loved design, understanding how things worked, and

figuring out how to design and build them. Engineering became the basis for almost every

endeavor he pursued for the rest of his life.

In his work with Brown & Root and Halliburton, he worked in HVAC design engineering for

some of the world’s largest industrial infrastructures, critical environmental control systems,

large scale power generators, and power plants. He worked for Brown & Root for 33 years.

His interest eventually became focused on real estate and real estate development while he was

still with Brown & Root. He began that endeavor in 1983 with his first real estate project. At that

time, storage facilities were a rare commodity, so his main objective was to expand in that area.

He bought the land, designed the buildings, ordered all the materials, and even designed and

manufactured an original “lock box” for storage door security. He hired his own construction

crews and served as Project Manager from the purchase of the property through completion of

each project. Eventually, he built 13 successful locations.

The same was true when he built the home where he and Jeannie have lived for the last 22 years.

He designed the house himself before turning his drawings over to an architect for the final

specifications. He ordered all the materials and served as general contractor from beginning to

end.

It is a home built for family gatherings, which was the most important factor in its design. The

location was also important because it sits on a lake with plenty of fish. There are many pictures

of Papa and his babies catching fish off the dock, something they all enjoyed together as a family

whenever they visited.

Throughout his entire life, Larry was a car enthusiast. He kept a list of every car he owned,

including the make, model, and year, beginning at age 14 and continuing through the current

ones. In all, he owned 26 cars, with his favorites being the four Corvettes he owned.

In 1999, Larry and Jeannie became motorcycle enthusiasts. Larry received a motorcycle jacket as

a Christmas gift from a friend and decided that a motorcycle jacket needed a motorcycle to go

with it. So, they went shopping, and Larry came home with his custom Harley Dyna Wide Glide,

while Jeannie came home with her red Softail Springer.

For almost two decades, they traveled to different points across the United States gathering

countless great memories along the way.

One of Larry’s longest and most specific interests was his service on the Breeders Greeters

Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He became a member of the largest

committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 1986 and gave 40 years of service to

one of the most fun and meaningful ways to serve the youth of Texas.

He loved driving the John Deere tractors and helping commercial exhibitors, FFA members, and

4 H kids from all over the state load and unload their tack and show gear for The Big Show. He

loved the connection with the kids and the memories it brought back to him from his own days as

an FFA member.

However, his greatest joys in life were his marriage, his children, and his grandchildren.

It all began with a girl who caught his eye. He met her in a very “American Graffiti” kind of way

at a place known as “The Ranger,” where everyone wanted to be on a Friday or Saturday night.

Picture a drive-up hamburger spot, with lanes to drive through and around, a place to see and be

seen. Cars were parked under striped awnings, and car hops took orders.

On one special night, Larry drove through the lane in his white Corvette, named “The Little

White Dove,” when he noticed a girl in another car whom he knew he had to meet.

He approached the car window, and the girl and her friend had a friendly conversation with him.

Then, Larry opened the back door of the car and got in.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked.

He told her he just wanted to get to know this girl better and that he would get out if she gave

him her phone number.

She finally decided that he really was very nice and gave him her phone number. That phone call

the next day would be the beginning of what turned out to be a lifetime of love.

Larry and Jeannie loved each other their whole lives, with their whole hearts.

With their marriage came the two most wonderful sons any parents could have, Beau and Brad,

who gave their Dad and Mom more joy than they ever thought possible.

Larry coached them in sports year-round, all through Little League baseball and football. He

served as Baseball League Commissioner & Agent and as Football League President of

Memorial Ashford. His love of coaching found its way to Beau and Brad. Watching them coach

his grandchildren was one of Larry’s greatest joys. He recalled those memories often and

treasured deeply.

He adored his boys and was proud of every accomplishment they achieved, from preschool

through college and into their chosen careers.

Traveling through the years was another great joy for Larry and Jeannie. Together, they visited

most of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

They traveled to Canada, along the southern provinces and islands. They also visited Argentina,

Brazil, Chile, and Patagonia, where they saw the penguins at the tip of South America.

They cruised throughout the Western and Eastern Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the Aegean

Sea where they visited Greece and Turkey, as well as Germany, Spain, France, and Italy.

The Isle of Capri was among their favorite destinations, and they made multiple return trips to

Italy over the years.

An endless love between two people created a life that blossomed into a beautiful family who all

adore each other in every way.

To God be the glory for all the blessings in a life well lived.

We will see you again, My Love, Dad, and Papa,

At Heaven’s Door