- Date Of Birth: January 6, 1930
- Date Of Death: January 25, 2021
- State: Arizona
Daniel John Ryason(Dan) passed away on January 25, 2021 due to natural causes. Dan was born on January 6, 1930. He was the second of four children born to Porter Raymond Ryason and Kathleen Gertrude Ryason (Dunn). Dan was preceded in death by his two brothers, older brother Raymond and younger brother Jack. He is survived by his sister, Mary Anne Gillespie.
Dan was drafted into the Army in 1948 and was accepted into OCS at Fort Lewis, WA which he successfully completed and emerged as a Second Lieutenant. He served his country during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.
While in OCS he met the love of his life, Rosemary Nadine Boyne, whom he married on August 25, 1955. Dan enrolled at the University of Washington on the GI Bill and was the first student in University history to graduate with both a Masters Degree (Science) and a Bachelor of Science Degree (Geology) in four years.
Dan and Rosemary, who passed in 2005, are survived by four children: Stephen, Jeffrey, Craig, and Stacey, and two grandchildren: Ronald and Philip.
Dan was a wonderful, loving husband and father to his family and he was a trusted and trusting friend who was loved and respected by all who knew him.
Dan had a strong sense of faith, and when he was asked what he believed in, he would respond:
“I believe everything in life has a beginning, a middle, and an end, and in that end, a new beginning.
I believe the beginning is Love, the middle is Courage, and the end with a new beginning is Faith. Each time I find myself in some situation I try to decide: Where am I? Then I say these little poems to remind me. The first poem is for the beginning which is Love:
“Perhaps Love is like a Rainbow, so soft and yet so clear. There must be Sun, there must be Rain.
So let one be the Sun and the other the Rain and perhaps, with Love
“The second poem is for the middle, which is Courage:
Out of the night that covers me Black as a pit from Pole to Pole,
I thank the Gods, whoever they be For my unconquerable soul.
It matters not how straight the gate
Or what charge the punishment on my scroll, I am the Captain of my Fate
I am the Master of my Soul.
“The third poem is for the end, and in that end a new beginning, which is Faith:
Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust Steel to iron, Iron to rust.
Back to the stars from which we came But to return again and again.
Oh Lord, grant me another rebirth
That I may return to my mother, Earth. Let me feast my eyes on her starry skies And the cool, green hills of Earth.”
Dan has left us for his new beginning, and though we miss him terribly we know he is in a better
place. He is on a new adventure, preparing the way for when our time comes to join him.
Fly high Daddy! We will see you on the other side.
