Roger Ray Ryals, 86, son of John T. Ryals and Olive Marie (Abbott) Ryals was born in the family home on Union Street in Unionville, Missouri, on June 24, 1938, and passed away November 23, 2024. He spent his early childhood in Unionville and graduated from the Unionville High School with the Class of 1956.
During young adulthood Roger helped on the family farms and with Ryals Oil Company Stations in Missouri and Iowa. Roger attended the Methodist Church.Roger attended college at Kirksville State Teachers College (now Truman State University) in Kirksville, MO.
Roger met Darlene Spence in 1957 at the local “Midget Inn” after a local basketball game and that started their dating years that ended up in a wedding date of July 12, 1959, at the Methodist Church with E. Stanley Ray performing the ceremony. The couple made their home in Unionville all of their married life. Roger operated the Ryals Motor Company selling used cars for a few years.
Then Roger operated the Ryals Oil Company Station on East Main for several years. To further his education, Roger obtained his Real Estate Brokers License and began working with Smiley Realty owners Bob and Kassie Smiley. Darlene obtained her Real Estate License, too.
During this time, they had purchased some farms and raised cattle and horses. Roger obtained his State Insurance Brokers License as well as State Certified General Real Estate Appraisers License in states of Missouri and Iowa.
They built their own private business office in 1985 and opened as Ryals Realty Insurance and North Missouri Appraisals and Roger continued to work there until retiring in 2023 at the young age of 85.
In his younger years, Roger served as President of the local Jaycees, and President of the Lions Club. He assisted with Little League Baseball, and worked with Boy Scouts. He attended the Christian Church with his family and was baptized with family members. He enjoyed hunting turkeys and deer (bow and gun) going fishing, and playing golf with his children, family and friends.
He loved spending time with his family, his siblings, his in-laws, and hosting the Ryals Family Annual Reunions in his yard as well as spending time along with many special friends.
Roger is survived by his wife Darlene of the home in Unionville, his children, Lisa Pinkerton (Bill) of Alpharetta, Georgia, Randy Ryals (Sharla) of Delray Beach, Florida, Darren Ryals (Jenny) of Palmyra, Missouri and Tara Lewis of Kirksville, Missouri. His grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly, are: Sara Pinkerton, Ashley Brown (Josh), Lauren Alba (Jake), Kayla Hudson (Lance), Kelli Ryals and fiance Daniel Lehenbauer and John Lewis. Two very special great grandchildren Brynlee and Bryson Hudson.
His siblings are: Margaret (Ryals) Harmison, Joanne (Ryals) Davis, Ronnie Ryals (Vicki), Debbie (Ryals) Mathews (Keith), Sherry (Ryals) Huffman, and sister-in-law Colleen (Black) Ryals and brother-in-law Phil Comstock, along with many nieces and nephews who were all very special to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother in-law and father in-law Carl and Mary Fay (Murphy) Spence, and siblings, John Robert Ryals, as a child, and Marjorie (Ryals) and Carl Luse, Truman and Jolene (Bowen) Ryals, Richard and Shirlee (Melton) Ryals, Garold Ryals, Shirley Kay (Ryals) and
Jack Comstock, brothers in-law Ron Harmison, PJ Davis, Phil Huffman, and Guy Spence and Betty (Lorigan) Spence and Doris (Dunning) Spence, and sister in-law Dolores (Spence) Kopfer and Lora McKay and Richard Kopfer.
In lieu of flowers to the family, please consider making a donation to Hospice of Northeast Missouri. Their services and compassion in his final months were a blessing and we all are very grateful for their service.
According to his wishes cremation has been accorded, A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Casady Luscan Funeral Solutions of Green Castle, MO is honored to care for and minister to the Ryals Family at this time.
“Don’t cry, too long, because it’s over
SMILE, for a long time, because it happened!
