Bob Ryan

JONESBORO, Ark. -- Bob Ryan, 70, of Jonesboro died Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born July 2, 1938, in Jonesboro to Evans H. Ryan and Neva McDaniel Gilbert.

A native and lifelong resident of Jonesboro, Bob formerly farmed and operated Ryan's Seed and Feed in Jonesboro, but for the last several years was a Crye-Leike Realtor in Jonesboro.

He was a member of Christian Valley Christian Church, a 1957 graduate of Valley View High School, and a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Arkansas National Guard.

He was a past president of the Valley View School Board and a past member of the Valley View Ruritan Club.

Bob was a member of the Jonesboro Board of Realtors, Arkansas Real Estate Association and the National Association of Realtors.

Survivors include his father and stepmother, Evans H. and Wanda Ryan of Chaffee, Mo.; a daughter and son-in-law, Stacy Ryan Shelton and Ron Shelton of Jonesboro; a son, Randall Ryan of Monette, Ark.; two sisters, Carol Ryan Cannon of Chaffee, and Pat Doty of Salem, Ark.; three brothers: Larry Gilbert of Russellville, Ark.; David Gilbert of Carlsbad, N.M.; and Donny Gilbert of Jonesboro; six grandchildren, Ryan Shelton, Reid Shelton, Andrea Crawford, Amanda Ryan, Michael Ryan and Brittany Ryan; and two great-grandchildren, Noah Cook and Bailey Crawford.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Neva McDaniel Gilbert; his grandmother, Dicie McDaniel; a sister, Betty Peterson; and a brother, John Ryan.

Visitation will be 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Emerson Funeral Home. Graveside funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Monday at McDaniel Cemetery with David Gibson officiating.

Active pallbearers include: Jim Turney, Ragle Huff, Jack Wright, Steve Heath, Larry Sharp and Jim Davidson. Honorary pallbearers include Crye-Leike Realty Associates, doctors, nurses and staff of NEA Baptist Hospital, Joyce Files, Steve Ryan, Grover Cooper and members of the Valley View High School 1956 Basketball State Championship team.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to the Bob Ryan Scholarship Fund at Valley View Schools, c/o Radius Baker, 2131 Valley View Drive, Jonesboro, Ark., 72404.

Online registry is at www.emersonfuneralhome.com.