Timothy Paul “Bear” Ryan, 69, passed away June 2, 2024, at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Missouri, surrounded by family.

Bear was born November 9, 1954, in Maryville, Missouri, the third of Maurice “Posey” and Mary Ryan’s seven children. He attended Tarkio schools, where he was a standout lineman on Tarkio’s renowned 1971 State Champion football team.  He was an outstanding student and was recognized as a National Merit Scholar.

After high school, Bear attended Northwest Missouri State University as a Chemistry major. He returned home in 1977 and started farming with his dad, Posey. He farmed for the rest of his life. The least likely of nurses, Bear took loving care of Posey and Mary in their twilight years, enabling them to live out their lives on the farm they loved.

Bear was liked by just about everyone who knew him. His jovial personality and agile wit made him a joy to be around. He enjoyed watching all sorts of sports and was a voracious reader. He loved driving the back roads around Tarkio to see how the crops were doing.

Bear is preceded in death by his parents and elder sister, Gail Roorda. He’s survived by his brothers, Mike and wife, Debbie of Lenexa, Kansas, Tom and wife, Suzanne of Leavenworth, Kansas, Pat of Tarkio, Jim of Cincinnati, Ohio, and his sister, Maureen and husband, Paul Howard of Williamsburg, Virginia. He also leaves behind his beloved nieces and nephews Katie, Kevin, Erin, Meghan, Will, Lissa, Ian and Daniel.

All memorial services are pending.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Community Hospital-Fairfax, Fairfax, Missouri.

Arrangements: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.

www.minterfuneralchapels.com