Richard Bryan Cushenberry

Bryan was born on February 11, 1971, in Frankfurt, Germany, the first child of Richard (“Rick”) and Beverly Cushenberry while Rick was stationed at Friedberg Army Base. Throughout his first few years, Rick and Beverly packed young Bryan up and toured him around Germany and Europe. Bryan always felt a strong connection to his birth country and was able to revisit it many years later during his honeymoon.

When Bryan was two years old, the Cushenberry family moved back to Texas, settling in Missouri City, where he spent the rest of his childhood. Bryan enjoyed a childhood full of adventures, including soccer, Boy Scouts, snow skiing, NASCAR trips with his dad and brother, and long road trips with his Grandpa Huffman to watch his Uncle Phil play baseball.

As a young adult, Bryan joined the Navy, following in his Grandpa Huffman’s footsteps. It was a memorable basic training experience, as the Texas native was sent to Chicago in the middle of December. Bryan served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Strike, earning the Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service medal, Sea Service ribbon, and Armed Forces Expeditionary medal among others. Bryan frequently recalled his time in the Navy, especially his favorite deployment near St. John’s in the Virgin Islands.

Throughout his life, Bryan pursued several careers. He worked as a real estate agent, a teacher’s aide, and as part of the care team in a group home serving community members with disabilities. Later, he returned to school to pursue his love and talent for cooking, earning an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts in 2016. He then worked as a chef in both retail and healthcare settings.

Bryan will be remembered for his love of the outdoors—whether hiking and camping or simply relaxing at the beach. He had a gift in the kitchen and a knack for making everything taste just a little bit better. He had a soft spot for animals, especially his beloved dog, Waffles, and his guinea pig, Pepper, whom he claimed he never wanted but who could often be found lying on his chest while being fed celery almost every afternoon. He will also be remembered for his quick wit, easy laugh, and ability to connect with others.

Above all, Bryan will be remembered for the love he poured into being a devoted father to his daughter, Carley. From the moment she was born, she was his pride and joy, and he worked hard to be an excellent and involved father. When Carley was young, Bryan could often be found sitting on the floor making funny faces and singing along to her favorite songs. As she grew older, he shared with her his love for cooking, video games, and the outdoors.

Bryan is survived by his daughter, Carley, and her mother, Gayle; his parents, Rick and Beverly; his brother, Mikey; his sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and Michael Parkinson; and his nephews, Liam, Luke, and Logan. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Walter and Sarah Cushenberry, Gene and Margaret Huffman and his uncles, Tony, Ed, and Robert. We know Bryan looked forward to being reunited with his loved ones who preceded him, and we can picture him now sitting around the fire once again with his grandpa and uncles.

While Bryan’s loved ones never found the right words to help him overcome the disease of addiction, we will remember him for the person he truly was. We are grateful that we were able to surround him with love, laughter, and family during his final days. He will be fiercely missed.

Bryan was a member of Willow Meadows Baptist Church in Houston.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Arc of Fort Bend County or K9s for Warriors.

A Memorial Service will be held at Forest Park Missouri City Funeral Home, 4217 Shipmans Cove Boulevard, Missouri City, TX 77545, US, on June 26, 2026 at 3:00 pm.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Forest Park Missouri City Funeral Home, 4217 Shipmans Cove Boulevard, Missouri City, TX 77545, US, on June 26, 2026 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm after the Memorial Service with a Catered Reception from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.