Mr. Gary D. “Pud” Ryan, age 67, of Florence passed away on Thursday, October 27, 2016. The family would like to invite you to a Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 29, 2016, 3:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Florence with Rev. Robert Sparkman officiating.
“Pud,” as friends and loved ones called him, was born on July 20, 1949, at Ryan’s Crossroads, Alabama to Billie “Rose” Weaver Ryan and James O. Ryan. Pud is survived by his wife of 42 years, Leslie Gray Thomas Ryan; his mother, Billie “Rose” Ryan of Guntersville, Alabama; his daughters, Lindsey Register Ryan Harp and husband, Chris of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; Casey Weaver Ryan Barber and husband, Joshua, of El Paso, Texas; his grandchildren, Alys Dantzler Harp, Amelia Rose Harp, Ann Eastman Harp and Joshua Ryan Barber; and his brother, James Dennis Ryan and wife, Shirley of Guntersville, Alabama; his sister, Katherine Ryan Gorman and husband, Ric, of Hilton Head, South Carolina; and many nieces and nephews. Gary is preceded in death by his father, James O. Ryan, Decatur, Alabama.
Gary and Leslie would have celebrated 43 years of marriage on November 3, 2016.
As a graduate of Decatur High School, in 1967, and The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, in 1971, Gary had a long and exceptional banking career beginning when he was recruited from college by First Union National Bank, Charlotte, North Carolina. Here he began his multi-decade career in banking and met his wife, Leslie. From his time in North Carolina, Gary achieved many noteworthy successes, including his involvement in multi-million-dollar international loan deals. As their family expanded, Gary and Leslie moved to Florence in 1983 where Gary took a position with Compass Bank as the Regional Bank President for Northwest Alabama making him the youngest bank president in the company’s history at age 34. He retired from this position 18 years later.
During his time in Florence, Gary served on the Board of Directors of: Florence Chamber of Commerce; YMCA of the Shoals; the President’s Club of The University of North Alabama; The Eye Foundation of Alabama; ECM Hospital and Chairman of ECM’s Finance Committee.
After his retirement in 2002, Pud enjoyed time at the beach, travel, Alabama football, golf and becoming a grandfather. In addition to his childhood nickname, his most treasured new nickname was “Pop-Pop” as given by his four beloved grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers the family asks donations be made to Children’s Museum Shoals or National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (http://www.npcf.us/)
Elkins Funeral Home of Florence would like to invite you to leave stories and condolences online at www.elkinsfuneralhome.com.
