Ryan Michael Stark, 40, loving father, husband, son, brother, and friend, passed away on June 3, 2018 in Auburn, WA. He is preceded in death by his mother, Dori Stark. Ryan is survived by his wife, Sarah Stark; son, Edward Stark; father, Michael Stark; sister, Carey Sedlacek and brother, Richard Stark. Ryan will also be greatly missed by his aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, loving in-laws, and many, many friends.
Ryan was born to Mike and Dori Stark February 4th, 1978 on Fort Sill, OK. He grew up in Palmdale, CA where he spent his childhood days on the Pony baseball fields, watching the Dodgers on TV, or stirring up trouble with his neighborhood friends. He attended Palmdale High School and played several percussion instruments for the PHS band drumline. After high school, Ryan attended the Le Cordon Bleu California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena where he discovered his true passion and talents for cooking international flavors and cuisine.
After culinary school, Ryan excelled in several positions including Banquet Supervisor at the Capital City Club in Columbia, SC; Banquet Chef and Sous Chef at the Porter Valley Country Club, Northridge, CA; Assistant Director of Culinary Services at Arbor Village, Kent, WA; and Assistant Banquet Chef at the Space Needle, Seattle, WA. In 2007, Ryan was awarded a National Rising Star Award from the Young Chefs of America. Ryan especially enjoyed his work in Banquet and Catering. He once explained that it’s easy to cook and serve one table at a time in a restaurant, but to execute a perfectly-timed dinner for 500 guests was exciting and satisfying on a different level.
In 2009, Ryan married Sarah Nicole Harris and the two began their life together by moving to Lake Tapps, WA. They built a life filled with lake adventures, friends, careers, dogs, love and laughter. They welcomed their son Edward “Eddie” Michael Stark on October 31, 2011 and he instantly became the light of their lives. Ryan was immensely proud of his son and often talked about how Eddie was a kind hearted and very smart young man who could out-fish any adult starting at the age of 2. Washington is also where Ryan formed an extended family of close friends who shared his passions for golf, fishing, billiards, and enjoying a great meal together.
Ryan will be remembered for his loving heart, larger than life spirit, crazy sense of humor, and his baffling loyalty to the Dallas Cowboys. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
— Abraham Lincoln
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