Obituaries
Austra Charlene Stuart Ryan
May 1, 1917 - July 22, 2015
Interment:
Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington, WV
Austra Charlene Stuart Ryan
Williamson, WV
Austra Charlene Stuart Ryan, mother of Robert Bobby Ryan of Williamson and Harry W. Ryan Jr. of Frankfort, Ky., peacefully returned to God Wed., July 22, 2015, at age 98.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry W. Ryan Sr., in 1985.
Born May 1, 1917, to Maude Belle Heaberlin and Oscar Preston Stuart, she moved with her family to Williamson at age 13 where she attended Williamson Junior and Senior High School, graduating in 1935. An honors student, she also excelled in basketball, swimming and gymnastics. She married the love of her life Harry W. Ryan Sr. in 1938.
Charlene's life was characterized by dedication to family, determination, hard work and an entrepreneuring spirit. One of ten children in a coal mining family, as a school girl she assisted her mother in the operation of a boarding house for miners, preparing breakfast and lunch buckets for the miners before rushing off to school.
After graduation she was employed as a secretary in the offices of Dr. Henry Clay Hayes and Dr. Fred Quincy and, later in the law offices of Senator John Greene, and J. Brooks Lawson Sr. Eventually she and her husband purchased a seed and feed store which Charlene operated for 13 years.
After Harry's death in 1985, she bought and sold several pieces of real-estate including a duplex and apartments which she rented until 2012.
Throughout her life Charlene also assisted in the mothering and care of members of her extended family and younger siblings. However, nothing gave her as much joy as the birth of her sons Harry in 1950 and Bobby in 1953. Her niece, Sharon, lived with her periodically during her childhood and considered Charlene and Harry second parents.
Dedicated to lifelong learning, in the second half of her life Charlene studied piano, painting, flower arranging and attended the community college for two years maintaining a 4.0 average.
She was a member of the Memorial Methodist Church, the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW, and a member of the Eastern Star for more than 50 years.
In 2012 she moved to Frankfort, Ky., to be closer to her son, Harry and his family who assisted in her care.
She was preceded in death by her six brothers and two sisters, Emma Jean Holt and Claudia Burmeister. She is survived by her sons; four grandchildren: Keith Ryan, Kelley Ratcliff, Tara Hatfield and Kaitlyn Varney, and six great grandchildren—Landon and Miana Ratcliff, Jake Ryan, and Jacob, Ryan and Kendyl Varney.
She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews including Sharon Burmeister Lord, Carolyn Sanders, Betsy Burmeister, Carol Altice, Winifred Grizzel, Dick Stuart, Eddie Holt and Glen Stuart.
She was loved to the end of her life by many friends including Sharon Houchins and Rosemary Stuart Cook. Special appreciation is extended to caregivers Freda Dillon and Valerie Mays.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, July 26 at Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 27, at Williamson Memorial Methodist Church. Burial will follow at approximately 2 p.m. at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington, W.Va.
You may express online condolences to the family atwww.weavermortuaryinc.com.
Weaver Mortuary of West Williamson is serving the family.
Austra Charlene Stuart Ryan, mother of Robert Bobby Ryan of Williamson and Harry W. Ryan Jr. of Frankfort, Ky., peacefully returned to God Wed., July 22, 2015, at age 98.Austra Charlene Stuart Ryan, mother of Robert "Bobby" Ryan of Williamson and Harry W. Ryan Jr. of Frankfort, Ky., peacefully returned to God Wed., July 22, 2015, at age 98.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry W. Ryan Sr., in 1985.
Born May 1, 1917, to Maude Belle Heaberlin and Oscar Preston Stuart, she moved with her family to Williamson at age 13 where she attended Williamson Junior and Senior High School, graduating in 1935. An honors student, she also excelled in basketball, swimming and gymnastics. She married the love of her life Harry W. Ryan Sr. in 1938.
Charlene's life was characterized by dedication to family, determination, hard work and an entrepreneuring spirit. One of ten children in a coal mining family, as a school girl she assisted her mother in the operation of a boarding house for miners, preparing breakfast and lunch buckets for the miners before rushing off to school.
After graduation she was employed as a secretary in the offices of Dr. Henry Clay Hayes and Dr. Fred Quincy and, later in the law offices of Senator John Greene, and J. Brooks Lawson Sr. Eventually she and her husband purchased a seed and feed store which Charlene operated for 13 years.
After Harry's death in 1985, she bought and sold several pieces of real-estate including a duplex and apartments which she rented until 2012.
Throughout her life Charlene also assisted in the mothering and care of members of her extended family and younger siblings. However, nothing gave her as much joy as the birth of her sons Harry in 1950 and Bobby in 1953. Her niece, Sharon, lived with her periodically during her childhood and considered Charlene and Harry "second parents".
Dedicated to lifelong learning, in the second half of her life Charlene studied piano, painting, flower arranging and attended the community college for two years maintaining a 4.0 average.
She was a member of the Memorial Methodist Church, the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW, and a member of the Eastern Star for more than 50 years.
In 2012 she moved to Frankfort, Ky., to be closer to her son, Harry and his family who assisted in her care.
She was preceded in death by her six brothers and two sisters, Emma Jean Holt and Claudia Burmeister. She is survived by her sons; four grandchildren: Keith Ryan, Kelley Ratcliff, Tara Hatfield and Kaitlyn Varney, and six great grandchildrenâLandon and Miana Ratcliff, Jake Ryan, and Jacob, Ryan and Kendyl Varney.
She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews including Sharon Burmeister Lord, Carolyn Sanders, Betsy Burmeister, Carol Altice, Winifred Grizzel, Dick Stuart, Eddie Holt and Glen Stuart.
She was loved to the end of her life by many friends including Sharon Houchins and Rosemary Stuart Cook. Special appreciation is extended to caregivers Freda Dillon and Valerie Mays.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, July 26 at Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 27, at Williamson Memorial Methodist Church. Burial will follow at approximately 2 p.m. at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington, W.Va.
You may express online condolences to the family at www.weavermortuaryinc.com.
Weaver Mortuary of West Williamson is serving the family.
Austra Charlene Stuart Ryan, mother of Robert "Bobby" Ryan of Williamson and Harry W. Ryan Jr. of Frankfort, Ky., peacefully returned to God Wed., July 22, 2015, at age 98.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry W. Ryan Sr., in 1985.
Born May 1, 1917, to Maude Belle Heaberlin and Oscar Preston Stuart, she moved with her family to Williamson at age 13 where she attended Williamson Junior and Senior High School, graduating in 1935. An honors student, she also excelled in basketball, swimming and gymnastics. She married the love of her life Harry W. Ryan Sr. in 1938.
Charlene's life was characterized by dedication to family, determination, hard work and an entrepreneuring spirit. One of ten children in a coal mining family, as a school girl she assisted her mother in the operation of a boarding house for miners, preparing breakfast and lunch buckets for the miners before rushing off to school.
After graduation she was employed as a secretary in the offices of Dr. Henry Clay Hayes and Dr. Fred Quincy and, later in the law offices of Senator John Greene, and J. Brooks Lawson Sr. Eventually she and her husband purchased a seed and feed store which Charlene operated for 13 years.
After Harry's death in 1985, she bought and sold several pieces of real-estate including a duplex and apartments which she rented until 2012.
Throughout her life Charlene also assisted in the mothering and care of members of her extended family and younger siblings. However, nothing gave her as much joy as the birth of her sons Harry in 1950 and Bobby in 1953. Her niece, Sharon, lived with her periodically during her childhood and considered Charlene and Harry "second parents".
Dedicated to lifelong learning, in the second half of her life Charlene studied piano, painting, flower arranging and attended the community college for two years maintaining a 4.0 average.
She was a member of the Memorial Methodist Church, the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW, and a member of the Eastern Star for more than 50 years.
In 2012 she moved to Frankfort, Ky., to be closer to her son, Harry and his family who assisted in her care.
She was preceded in death by her six brothers and two sisters, Emma Jean Holt and Claudia Burmeister. She is survived by her sons; four grandchildren: Keith Ryan, Kelley Ratcliff, Tara Hatfield and Kaitlyn Varney, and six great grandchildrenâLandon and Miana Ratcliff, Jake Ryan, and Jacob, Ryan and Kendyl Varney.
She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews including Sharon Burmeister Lord, Carolyn Sanders, Betsy Burmeister, Carol Altice, Winifred Grizzel, Dick Stuart, Eddie Holt and Glen Stuart.
She was loved to the end of her life by many friends including Sharon Houchins and Rosemary Stuart Cook. Special appreciation is extended to caregivers Freda Dillon and Valerie Mays.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, July 26 at Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 27, at Williamson Memorial Methodist Church. Burial will follow at approximately 2 p.m. at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington, W.Va.
You may express online condolences to the family at www.weavermortuaryinc.com.
Weaver Mortuary of West Williamson is serving the family.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry W. Ryan Sr., in 1985.
Born May 1, 1917, to Maude Belle Heaberlin and Oscar Preston Stuart, she moved with her family to Williamson at age 13 where she attended Williamson Junior and Senior High School, graduating in 1935. An honors student, she also excelled in basketball, swimming and gymnastics. She married the love of her life Harry W. Ryan Sr. in 1938.
Charlene's life was characterized by dedication to family, determination, hard work and an entrepreneuring spirit. One of ten children in a coal mining family, as a school girl she assisted her mother in the operation of a boarding house for miners, preparing breakfast and lunch buckets for the miners before rushing off to school.
After graduation she was employed as a secretary in the offices of Dr. Henry Clay Hayes and Dr. Fred Quincy and, later in the law offices of Senator John Greene, and J. Brooks Lawson Sr. Eventually she and her husband purchased a seed and feed store which Charlene operated for 13 years.
After Harry's death in 1985, she bought and sold several pieces of real-estate including a duplex and apartments which she rented until 2012.
Throughout her life Charlene also assisted in the mothering and care of members of her extended family and younger siblings. However, nothing gave her as much joy as the birth of her sons Harry in 1950 and Bobby in 1953. Her niece, Sharon, lived with her periodically during her childhood and considered Charlene and Harry "second parents".
Dedicated to lifelong learning, in the second half of her life Charlene studied piano, painting, flower arranging and attended the community college for two years maintaining a 4.0 average.
She was a member of the Memorial Methodist Church, the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW, and a member of the Eastern Star for more than 50 years.
In 2012 she moved to Frankfort, Ky., to be closer to her son, Harry and his family who assisted in her care.
She was preceded in death by her six brothers and two sisters, Emma Jean Holt and Claudia Burmeister. She is survived by her sons; four grandchildren: Keith Ryan, Kelley Ratcliff, Tara Hatfield and Kaitlyn Varney, and six great grandchildrenâÂÂLandon and Miana Ratcliff, Jake Ryan, and Jacob, Ryan and Kendyl Varney.
She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews including Sharon Burmeister Lord, Carolyn Sanders, Betsy Burmeister, Carol Altice, Winifred Grizzel, Dick Stuart, Eddie Holt and Glen Stuart.
She was loved to the end of her life by many friends including Sharon Houchins and Rosemary Stuart Cook. Special appreciation is extended to caregivers Freda Dillon and Valerie Mays.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, July 26 at Weaver Mortuary in West Williamson.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 27, at Williamson Memorial Methodist Church. Burial will follow at approximately 2 p.m. at Spring Hill Cemetery in Huntington, W.Va.
You may express online condolences to the family at www.weavermortuaryinc.com.
Weaver Mortuary of West Williamson is serving the family.