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Infant Son of John & Louisa Ryman

Photo courtesy of Faye Cunningham
 

William Paine Ryman
August 17, 1923 - January 28, 2011

William Paine Ryman of Matagorda, Texas passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family and friends on January 28, 2011. He was 87 years old. He is preceded in death by his wife, Joan Horn Ryman, his parents G.C. and Louise Ryman, his brother Carroll Walker Ryman, and his sister Geraldyne Ryman Havard. He is survived by his son Grover Carroll Ry Ryman and wife Janet Ryman, his son William Paine Ryman II and wife Sheila Ryman, and his daughter Laura Ryman Shay and husband Matthew Shay. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

William was born on August 17, 1923 in Matagorda, Texas. He was a man who loved his family and his country as he accomplished many great things in his career and his life. William attended high school in Bay City, Texas and then attended Texas A&M University. His college years were interrupted by volunteering for active duty in WWII, but he returned to marry his childhood sweetheart and to Texas A&M to graduate in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. He was Valedictorian.

His career as a geologist began with Humble Oil in Houston, Texas. He retired as a World Geologist for the Exxon Oil Company. During this time he was also recalled to active duty for The Korean War. As a double veteran, he flew over 75 missions in the United States Air force as a navigator, bombardier, and radar officer. He was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant and decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal , the EAME Campaign Medal , the WWII Victory Medal, The Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal.

William’s job took him to Houston, Durango, Denver, New York, and even Saudi Arabia, but when he retired he returned to his hometown roots and became actively involved in his community. He was a member of the Matagorda United Methodist Church, a member of the VFW Post #4458 and served as the Matagorda Republican Party Chairman until his wife became ill and needed his full time attention. He was always proud of his Matagorda roots and truly enjoyed spending his final years here fishing, gardening, and “piddlin” with his inventions. He also enjoyed working on his computer, even up to the last week of his life. Fortunately, he shared many memories with us because he will be dearly missed. Fortunately, he shared his love with us and we know he is home with our mother, at last.

A loving thanks to Diane Barnes, Renee Wilson, and AK Dowling who were extra special friends that helped take care of him to the end. Our hearts go out to Houston Hospice, too. They are amazing people.

A Memorial Service for William Paine Ryman will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 12, 2011 at the Matagorda United Methodist Church in Matagorda, Texas. Honorary Pall Bearers will be Ry-Jonathan Ryman, William Travis Ryman, Hunter Paine Ryman, Joseph Louis Bokorney II, and Milam Tell Bokorney. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Matagorda United Methodist Church or the Houston Hospice El Campo would be appreciated.

Taylor Bros. Funeral Home

Joan Horn Ryman

Joan Horn Ryman of Matagorda, Texas, was born April 17, 1925, and died March 16, 2005.

She was the blessed daughter of Grover and Mollie Horn of Bay City, Texas.

Dedicated wife of 59 years to William P. Ryman; devoted mother of Grover, Will and Laura; grandmother of Ry, Cecially, Nicole, Travis, Olivia, Hunter, Bo, Tell and Carly Joan; and great-grandmother of Bailey, Mercy, Renna, Kadin, Kaia, Sage and Seth.

A graduate of Bay City High School class of ‘42, she was remembered by her friends as a twirler and drum major for the Black Cat Band.

She was a airline stewardess for Pan American Airlines during WWII and a supportive housewife for her husband while moving throughout the country during his career in geology with Exxon.

Joan and William retired to their hometown of Matagorda in 1989 to enjoy the simple coastal life and to be close to family and lifelong friends.

Family was always the most important thing to Joan.

She loved her friends, as well.

She also was proud of her Texas roots, and boasted of it, no matter where she lived.

She was a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and the Ladies Auxiliary to VFW Post No. 4459.

She is predeceased by: her parents, Grover and Mollie Horn; her sister, Melody Pearson; her aunt, Ruby Baty; and her cousin, Elizabeth Brown.

She is survived by: her husband, William Ryman; her son, Grover Carroll Ry Ryman and his wife, Janet; her son, William P. Ryman II and his wife, Sheila; her daughter, Laura Ryman Shay, and her husband, Matthew; her sister-in-law, Geraldyne Havard; her niece, Kary Havard; her nephew, Randy Pearson; her niece, Martha Ann Pattinson; and all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family requests donations be made to the Hospice Support Inc., P.O. Box 1417, El Campo, Texas 77437, or to the caring ministry of the Matagorda United Methodist Church, Matagorda, Texas.

The family thanks the loving care and devotion of caregiver Lupe Carreon and family friend Diane Barnes who improved the quality of Joan’s life and allowed us to keep her at home during her declining health.

The family also appreciates the professional nursing and healthcare provided by Jackie Hooper and the staff from the Houston Hospice group out of El Campo, and the final, loving night care provided by Beverly Smith.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, March 25, 2005, at Matagorda United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Fran Foger officiating.

Joan’s urn will be placed in a family kiosk at Matagorda Cemetery, Matagorda, Texas.

Bay City Tribune, March 20, 2005
 

Nancy Jane Ryman

Photo courtesy of Faye Cunningham
 

Ollie Raymond Ryman

Ollie Raymond Ryman, 70, of Wadsworth, Texas, died Wednesday, August 29, 2001 in Houston, Texas. He was born June 7, 1931 in Wadsworth to the late Eddie Gilley and Virginia Anderson Ryman.

He is survived by wife, Wilda Ryman of Wadsworth, daughters, Sherry Koy of Katy, Mary Maxwell of Azle, Texas, Terry Dement of Wadsworth, Kimberly Wiederhold of Wadsworth, Margaret Massey of Wadsworth and Crystal Ryman of Bay City; sons, Joe Dement, Jr. of Wadsworth, Johnnie Dement, II of Azle, Texas, David Ryman and Christopher Ryman both of Wadsworth; sisters, Gertrude Hardy, Sybil Weiss both of Bay City, Rosemary Armstrong of Matagorda, brother, Randolf Ryman of Wadsworth, 18 grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by parents, sister, Margaret Verdecana, brothers, Robert, Roy, and Russell Ryman.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home with Melvin Ryman officiating. Interment will follow at Matagorda Cemetery.

The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home.

Arrangements by Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. A00011A2001AG31

The Daily Tribune, Friday, August 31, 2001
 

Robert Ryman

On last Saturday night Frank Ryman’s little boy, about eighteen months old, was playing around the table and upset a coffee pot of boiling coffee scalding himself, from the effects of which he died on Sunday morning. We deeply sympathize with the distressed family.

Matagorda County Tribune, October 7, 1899
 

Sophie Butter Ryman

Sophie Butter was born in Poland, July 27m 1863, coming to America with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Butter in the fall of 1868. They landed at Matagorda but soon settled on a farm north of there, near where is now the Francisville, Church. Here Sophia grew to young womanhood and in 1885 was married to Mr. Frank Ryman at the age of 22. The young people made a home of their own on a farm near her parents, where she lived until her passing to the life beyond, Nov. 5, 1932, being 69 years, 3 months and 8 days of age.

In this home their children were born, grew to young manhood and womanhood, with the exception of two boys who died at the age of two and two and a half. The others married and settled in this vicinity.

They are Charles of Newgulf, Mrs. Frank Hatchett and Eddie of Wadsworth, Mrs. Edgar Mallory of Gulf, Arthur and Ollie of Wadsworth, Ernest of Newgulf and Mrs. Boyd Sifford of Blessing.

Her children were all with her during her last illness, being a great comfort to her, relieving her suffering in every way possible. Mrs. Ryman was a kind and loving wife and mother, loved and respected by neighbors and friends.

She was a member of the Wadsworth Catholic Church, her pastor, Reverend O’Reilly of Bay City, being in charge of the last sad rites, held in the church here. Interment was in the Matagorda Cemetery under direction of Walker-Matchett, funeral directors of Bay City.

The services were attended by a large number of sympathizing friends.

The floral offerings were many and beautiful.

Mrs. Ryman leaves to mourn their loss, her devoted husband, her children, thirty grandchildren, besides other relatives and friends.

Daily Tribune, Wednesday, November 16, 1932
 

Photos courtesy of Faye Cunningham

A Serious Explosion Of Boiler On the Ryman Rice Farm Horribly Burns Bowie Ryman

A sad accident occurred at the B. A. Ryman rice farm last Thursday afternoon which near cost young Bowie Ryman his life.

In the midst of a very busy harvest scene, the young Ryman in charge of the big traction engine which was moving the machinery, there was without warning a terrific explosion, both ends of the boiler blowing out.

Bowie, who was at the moment shoveling in coal, was severely scalded and burned by fire which ignited his clothing. He called to his father and brother to take off his burning clothes, and as they did so the extent of his injuries were found terrible, heartsickening. Fortunately for his eyes, to protect as much of his face as possible from the heat of the furnace while shoveling coal into it, he had pulled his hat well down over his face, and in that way his eyes escaped. But from just below his eyes to his neck his face was one big blister. His breast and stomach were badly burned, but worse still from his waist down, which seemed to get the full force of the boiling water.

The unfortunate young man was tenderly placed in his auto and by his father and brother conveyed to Bay City where he was placed at the Baker Hotel and given prompt medical attention.

At the time of the accident, the machinery was running full blast, with nearly a score of men busily engaged waiting on the big thresher. Mr. B. A. Ryman, father, and Carroll, brother of Bowie, were near, superintending the operations; E. L. Lawson and son Sam and Douglass Serrill were driving the straw wagons, and Sam was so near the he was partly sunned and partly blown off his wagon and was black all over from soot; Norman Savage was sewing the bags as they were filled with rice; Mr. Davis, the separator man, was also very near at the time of the explosion and received some burns on his face and hands, and there were perhaps a dozen others employed about the thresher.

Matagorda News, September 5, 1912

Sad Death of Bowie Ryman

Died at Bay City at 4 p. m. Saturday, September 7, 1912, Walker Bowie Ryman, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Ryman of Matagorda.

The deceased was born on Big Hill, Dec. 24, 1893, and was 18 years old last Christmas Eve.

After nine days suffering from the awful burns received in the boiler explosion on the rice farm, suffering which under the conditions was indeed heroic, Bowie’s spirit took its flight to the God who gave it. Since the day of the awful accident the young man had borne his suffering with a patience and resignation born of true Christian fortitude. From the first he realized his condition, and told several of his friends that he would never get up; and with this conviction there was that complete resignation to the Master’s will and hope for the life beyond which was a comfort and solace to his parents and friends, whom he frequently had to join him in prayer and song.

Bowie was popular because of his kindly spirit, a testimonial which came as a solace to the grieved mother’s heart this week—a letter from one of his boy schoolmates of years ago, who wrote that he was an orphan and poor and timid and when other boys would unmercifully tease him Bowie would take his part and encourage him—kindly acts ne’er to be forgotten.

The remains and the bereaved family were accompanied home Sunday morning by sorrowing friends from Bay City, and the cortege met at the train and accompanied to the family residence by many sympathizing friends.

The funeral took place from the Methodist church at 4:30 the service being conducted by Rev. E. C. Escoe; and as the service was concluded at the grave the beautiful floral offerings laid upon the last resting place of their friend by loving hands bore silent tribute to the memory of the departed.

Matagorda News, September 12, 1912