Obituary of John Charles Ryan

John Charles Ryan, 52 of Biggs, passed away from an illness on March 18, 2023, in Oroville California.  

John was born in Gridley CA to Kent and Gerry Ryan in 1970.  He lived in the Gridley-Biggs area all of his life. Attending school in Biggs CA. After graduating high school in 1988 he and his former spouse were married a few years later and had 3 children together.  During this time John went through the Police Academy at Yuba College and after he graduated became a Deputy Sheriff at the Colusa County Sheriff’s Department.  There he served two years before getting hired with the Oroville Police Department and then the Butte County Sheriff’s Department.  John served on special teams during his police work such as The Sniper Team and worked in the Special Investigations Unit.  John was medically retired from police work in 2015. Later John was to meet and marry his current wife Kristy and after dating for two years they married in March of 2022 adding stepchildren and grandchildren to his life.

John enjoyed many hobbies throughout his life such as hunting, fishing, camping, bicycling, woodworking, and cooking.  His favorite place to visit with family and friends was at the ocean in Fort Bragg, CA. There he used to go camping, deep sea fishing and crabbing with his grandparents. He always enjoyed his dogs that he would call his best friends, most currently Jethro, Ziva, Abby and Gretta.

John is survived by his current wife Kristy, previous spouse Michelle, children from his first marriage Samantha (Zadock), Logan and Katelyn, his step-children Kayla (Teigan), Tyler (Morgan), three grandchildren, Benjamin, Mahlon and Renley, two brothers Jesse and Jeremy, his father Kent, his grandmother Helen, lifelong friend Tim and many loving aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and friends.

John was preceded in death by his mother Gerry Jean, his grandmother Zelda, and two grandfathers John and Charlie.

There will be a service in memorial for John at the Gridley-Biggs Cemetery, 2023 CA-99 Gridley CA at the gazebo area on Monday April 10, 2023, at 10:00AM.  There will be a potluck following the service at the Biggs Assembly of God church on 3079 5^th street in Biggs CA.

Arrangements entrusted to Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel.

When I die
Give what's left of me away
To children
And old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give them
What you need to give to me.

I want to leave you something,
Something better
Than words
Or Sounds.

Look for me
In the people I've known
Or loved,
And if you cannot give me away,
At least let me live on your eyes
And not on your mind.

You can love me most
By letting
hands touch hands,
By letting
Bodies touch bodies,
And by letting go
Of children
That need to be free.

Love doesn't die,
People do.
So, when all that's left of me
Is love,
Give me away.

I'll see you at home
In the earth.