Roy Lee Ryan

Celebration of Life for Roy Lee Ryan, age 90, of Keller, Texas, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, February 16, 2023, at the Jackson Funeral Home Chapel in Frederick, Oklahoma with Rev. Keith Sanders, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Keller, Texas officiating.  Mr. Ryan left this earth for his heavenly home on Saturday, February 11, 2023, in Keller, Texas.  Burial will be in the Frederick Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Jackson Funeral Home of Frederick.

Roy was born in Frederick, Oklahoma on April 24, 1932, to Homer Lee Ryan and Flora Estelle Daugherty Ryan. Roy attended Frederick Public Schools and Cameron University; he had a passion for knowledge and loved to learn. However, many would agree that Roy’s life did not truly begin until February 14, 1951, when he married his beautiful bride, Betty Jo Calloway Ryan.

Thus began a love story for the ages, full of love, laughter, plenty of dancing, and countless beautiful memories. A love story that inspired admiration and served as a guiding rod too so many of their family. Roy and Betty remained united in marriage for 72 years and by the certainty of their faith, they knew that it would last through eternity.

Roy and Betty are members of the First Baptist Church of Keller, just one of the many churches they had called home over a life that took them from Frederick to Colorado, Dumas, Lubbock, and eventually Keller, Texas.

While Roy loved living close to his family, he often longed for the barren beauty of West Texas and those long highways that stretched over the horizon to infinity. Roy loved being behind the wheel, in his version of white lighting. Even in his old age, when he could no longer drive himself, he was always trying to convince one of his children or grandchildren to drive him to Frederick or out to West Texas. Or, if you were lucky, to make the two-day drive to his and Betty’s home in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Roy loved the desert and he loved to feel the sun shining down on him.

Roy had a passion for hard work and an endless love for his family and a desire to provide them with everything he possibly could. Beginning on a small farm in Colorado, his love of the land would see him become a true farmer, rancher, and a land trader.

His love of being on the road served him well in business, where he put thousands upon thousands of miles behind him while trading farms and ranches across the Southwest. His career as a land broker is a true legend in certain circles, especially to those who knew him as “Double R.”

Throughout his life, Roy never knew a stranger. Wherever he went, he would easily strike up conversations with those around him asking them about who they were and where they were from. He was a people person in the truest sense, He was a storyteller and kept those times with friends and family close to his heart. It is through these stories of treasured memories that he will be remembered by those who loved him.

Roy and Betty both had a passion for sports, especially watching the Texas Tech Red Raiders and any school one of their children or grandchildren had attended. Prior to moving to Keller, Texas they would travel across many highways to land at one of their children’s homes to watch their grandchildren play. Roy and Betty were their biggest fans.  Every grandchild has the memory of helping Pops unload the hanging clothes and boots in the back of the car.

Roy enjoyed well-made clothes and he and Betty would strike a stunning image at any event they attended. Roy loved music, in his later years, he often could be found sitting in the sun next to the pool at one of his children’s homes, singing classic country music under his breath, waiting on Betty to bring him inside to have lunch with his beloved family.

Roy is survived by his beloved wife, Betty; one brother, Homer Lynn Ryan and wife Kim of Frederick, OK, and sister Rita Joyce Perry, both of Frederick, OK; his children, Randall Lee Ryan and wife Roxine, of Oklahoma City, OK, Sandra Jo Devin and husband James, of Southlake, TX, Patricia Rae Jenkins and husband Scott, of Bedford, TX, and Jeffrey Stewart Ryan and wife Charlotte, of Westlake, TX; his grandchildren Angela Ryan and spouse Ryan Clary, Jason Ryan Devin and fiancé Victoria Sanford, Joshua Thomas Devin and wife Kristin, Zachary Scott Ryan, and Robert Chance Ryan; and his great-grandchildren, Ryan Austin Leber, Logan Pierce Devin, River Eugene Devin, and Dalton James Devin; and several nieces and nephews.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson Matthew Lee Ryan.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cal Farley Boys Ranch, in memory of Roy Lee Ryan.