Farris Julian Ryan

Farris Julian Ryan was born on January 22, 1932, in Shinewell, Oklahoma, where he grew up learning the values of hard work and community. Though he completed only the eighth grade, Farris proved that character, determination, and kindness matter far more than titles or degrees. He built a successful life through grit and heart.

He worked for several years in pipeline construction before becoming a proud business owner, owning the Sands Motel in Weatherford, as well as Ryan Electric, which was a family business with his sons, and later the Americana Motor Lodge in Idabel. He took pride in his work and in providing for his family.

Service to others was one of Farris’s greatest joys. He joined the Masonic Lodge in Dover in 1967 and remained active in numerous organizations, including the Lions Club, the Oklahoma Eastern Star for over 52 years, the Bedouin Shriners of Muskogee, McCurtain County Shriners, and the Scottish Rite of McAlester. For more than 40 years, he faithfully served at First Christian Church in Idabel.

Farris had a special place in his heart for helping those in need. He volunteered with the American Red Cross for 25 years and spent more than two decades working with the McCurtain County Christmas Council, helping deliver food to families throughout the community. In 2015, he was honored with the Ernest R. “Jack” Tucker Award, a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much of himself to others.

On August 31, 1963, he married the love of his life, Clara Jewell Ryan, in Galveston, Texas. He was a devoted husband and father, faithfully caring for his wife even in his final days. They began and ended each day together with a prayer and a kiss.

Farris never hesitated to help anyone in need. He showed his children, grandchildren, Great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and family what having a servant's heart truly means by volunteering and taking us along to help with Feed the Children, The Christmas Council and the annual Groundhog Day breakfast. He always taught us to put others before ourselves.

He was a true jack of all trades and excelled at anything he set his mind to. Many of us cherish memories of time spent in his woodshop, where he generously allowed us to use wood scraps to build our own projects—within reason, of course. Most of the things he built were lovingly made at his wife’s request. He could cook and bake like nobody’s business, and we will forever miss his peanut patties and peach pies. He was also an avid collector of barbed wire—he never saw a piece he didn’t want to keep.

Farris took being a family man very seriously. He never once hesitated to make each of us feel special, valued, and deeply loved in every way.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jaired Ryan and Lela Bell Tillery; his stepfather, Luther Young; four brothers, Jaired Ryan Jr., Lloyd Ryan, Douglas Ryan, and Floyd Ryan; three sisters, Imogene Berry, Betty Jo Ryan, and Shirley Steelman; his son-in-law, Jim Ryder; and two grandsons, Jason and Jacob Greenfield.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Clara Jewell Ryan, of the home; his sister, Chessa Dalton and husband Allen of Stroud; and four children: Carol Ryder of Idabel; James Ryan and wife Cheryl of Oklahoma City; Danny Ryan and wife Cari of Glencoe; and Dena Sampson and husband Terry of Tulsa; His granddaughter, Cristy Walker and husband Kent of Idabel, who was truly like a daughter to him.

He is also survived by twenty grandchildren, forty-four great-grandchildren, nineteen great-great-grandchildren, and one great-great-great-grandchild.

Save a seat for us, you may be gone but never forgotten.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, March 2, 2026, at the White Family Funeral Chapel with Bro. David Flanary officiating. Interment will follow at Canfield Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the funeral home.

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