Thomas J. Ryan, Jr., 82, Valley Falls, died Saturday, Nov.14, 2015, at his home.

He was born Sept. 30, 1933, at Kansas City, MO, the son of Thomas J. and Mary Elizabeth King Ryan, Sr. He graduated from Bishop Hogan High School at Kansas City, MO. He served in the US Army from 1957-58 and was stationed in Tokyo, Japan.

Tom farmed in the Valley Falls area with his uncle and aunt, William and Margaret Brose. In 1986 he became an innkeeper along wife, Marcella, at the family’s bed and breakfast inn, The Barn, at Valley Falls.

He was a founding member of the Kansas Bed and Breakfast Inn Association, former president and board member of Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging, and a member of many community organizations and committees.

He married Marcella Rose Lickteig, October 12, 1963, in Topeka. She preceded him in death September 6, 2014. A nephew, James Meiners, also preceded him in death.

Survivors include three daughters, Mary Ryan, Juneau, Alaska, Catherine Pusich and her husband, Dave, Juneau, Alaska, and Patricia Miller and her husband, Mike, Valley Falls; one son, Thomas J. Ryan III and his wife, Gina, Valley Falls; six grandchildren; a sister, Mary Ann Ryan Meiners, Kansas City, MO; and two nieces.

Tom’s devotion to family, his determination, and his unwavering optimism are among the many things his family and community will miss about him.  He always worked to inspire the best in everyone and if you interacted with Tom you always left with a positive feeling.  Tom is not someone who stopped at the word no.  He was most happy working on projects and with organizations that helped others.  His generosity and genuine concern for others rarely had limits.  He treated his business as a ministry to his customers to provide them a place to rest and relax and to be encouraged.   Tom’s sense of humor and love of life will never be forgotten. 

The Memorial Service will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at The Barn Bed and Breakfast Inn south of Valley Falls. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time. Memorial contributions may be made to the Valley Falls Food Pantry and sent c/o Mercer Funeral Home, PO Box 6, Valley Falls, KS 66088. Online condolences are welcome at www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.