Roy Hugh Ryan, 94
January 28, 1930 – January 19, 2025
TUPELO — Roy Hugh Ryan died at age 94 on January 19, 2025. A retired United Methodist Minister, he was born in Prentiss County, Mississippi on January 28, 1930, to N.C. (Lum) and Bela Nabers Ryan. He spent his early childhood in Itawamba County and was a graduate of Itawamba Agricultural High School and in the first graduating class of Itawamba Community College in 1950, when he also received his license to preach. As a young minister in 1959, Roy and a few associates, introduced a resolution to the Methodist Conference, calling for a study committee to consider a retirement center that later resulted in the development of Traceway Manor in Tupelo and beginning Methodist Senior Services.
Rev. Dr. Ryan received degrees from Millsaps College, and the schools of theology at Emory University, Southern Methodist University and Vanderbilt University. He served as pastor in Nettleton, MS and was the organizing pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Cleveland, MS. He also served as a pastor in Dallas, Texas for four years and as an adult Christian education specialist with the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, TN for 22 years. He and his wife, Doris, moved to Tupelo in 1999.
Rev. Ryan is survived by his wife of 71 years, to whom he was married June 7, 1953, Doris Finney Ryan; two daughters, Laura McLaughlin (Fred) of Nashville, TN and LaFaye Hidinger (John) of Murfreesboro, TN; six grandchildren, Ryan McLaughlin Wood (Barrett) of Nashville, TN, Anderson McLaughlin (Claire) of Nashville, TN, David Goldberg (Allison) of Burbank, California, Anna Goldberg Conry (Jeremy) of Chicago, IL, Andrew Hidinger of Destin, FL, and Jacob Hidinger of Chattanooga, TN; four great-grandchildren, Simmons Wood of Nashville, TN, and Palmer McLaughlin of Nashville, TN, Ellison Wood and Thompson McLaughlin of Nashville; and one son-in-law, Mark Goldberg of Chicago, IL.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and one daughter, Susan Goldberg (Mark) of Crystal Lake, IL; two brothers, Lamar N. Ryan of Zion, IL, and J.R. Ryan of Marietta, MS, and one sister, Allene Young of Saltillo, MS.
A private family-only graveside will take place for Dr. Ryan. A memorial service will be held in mid-February at First United Methodist Church-Tupelo and will be announced by Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo, which is honored to be serving the family.
Memorial gifts may be made to Methodist Senior Services, Mitchell Center, 2800 West Main St., Tupelo, MS 38801, or Itawamba Community College Foundation, C/O Rev. Dr. Roy H. and Doris Finney Ryan Endowed Scholarship, 602 West Hill St., Fulton, MS 38843.
Call Holland Funeral Directors (662-840-5000) for more information.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
