Obituary of Helen "Cleo" Ryan

Funeral services for Helen “Cleo” Ryan will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, March 29, 2021 from the sanctuary of Life Church, 4960 Hwy 4 E, Columbia, LA with Bro. Dean Love and Bro. Joshua Love officiating. Interment will follow at Welcome Home Cemetery, Grayson, LA under the direction of Riser and Son Funeral Home, Columbia. The family will receive visitors Sunday, March 28, 2021 at the church from 5 PM until 8 PM. Helen “Cleo” Blakeley Ryan, age 93, was born November 15, 1927 in Littlefield, Texas to the union of her parents, Frank Blakeley and Augusta Williams Blakeley and she passed from this life March 25, 2021 at the Haven Nursing Center in Columbia, Louisiana. Cleo was a retired nurse that touched the lives of those who were in her care. She had many friends and shared laughs with everyone she came in contact with. She loved her family and friends and loved to go and be a part of whatever they had going on, whether it was cheering you on at a baseball game, fishing, playing bingo, playing dominos, going to a Nascar speedway, working in her flower beds, or going to church, (she didn’t want to miss a thing!) She enjoyed life and spread laughter and cheer everywhere she went. She will be missed by many. Cleo was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Augusta Blakeley; her siblings, 5 sisters and 3 brothers; her husband of 56 years, Aaron “Bubba” Ryan; one grandson, Lee Warren Ryan; and one great-grandson, Mason Turner Bowie. Those left to cherish her memory are her sons: Mike Ryan (Cindy) of Elisabethton, TN, Bobby Ryan (Anne) of Columbia, LA, Frank Ryan (Shirley) of Greer, SC, Ned Ryan (Janie) of Columbia, LA, and Jeff Ryan of Walton KY; one sister- in- law, Dorothy Blakeley of Sunnyvale, TX; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-three great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Serving as pallbearers are grandson, Blake Ryan and great-grandsons: Robert Poole, Dustin May, Colton Ryan, Casey Ryan, Aaron Rushing, Dylan Sinclair, and Jacob Black. Honorary pallbearers are grandsons: Chad Ryan, Michael Ryan, Duane Ryan, Charles Poole, Wayne Prudhomme, Clint Rushing and great-grandson, Brian Ryan. The family would like to thank the staff of the Haven Nursing Center, Citizens Medical Center (staff), Dr. Head (staff), along with Ascend Hospice Care for their excellent care, love, and compassion during this time.