Todd James Ryan

Todd James Ryan was born October 25, 1967 to Tommy and Judy Kelly Ryan in Lubbock, TX where he attended Parsons and Bayless Elementary, Atkin’s Middle School, and then later Monterey High School. He graduated from Monterey in 1986, and afterward worked as a machinist. In the summer of 1991 he met his future wife Tracy Dawn Saltzman. They were engaged and later married on June 13, 1992 in Lubbock, TX.

During this time he worked for Southwest Coca-Cola in Big Spring, TX until he later moved to Fort Stockton, TX and began working for Great Plains Distributors where he delivered, sold, and merchandised beverages. While in Fort Stockton, on September 10th, 1996, Todd’s favorite person came into the world. His daughter Morgan Layne Ryan, “Shorty” who he also loved deeply. It was in 2000, eight years after leaving Lubbock that Todd returned with his family to be nearer to his sister, Kelly Ryan Clark, and his parents Tommy and Judy Ryan.

It was at this time that Todd worked at Frito-Lay, and later Conway Freight. At this time his schedule made it so he could resume one of his favorite pastimes, coaching softball. Todd was happiest out on the softball field. He loved coaching not only his daughter, but anyone else who wanted to learn to be “mentally tough” and to love the game of softball.

He coached players from machine pitch, all the way to high school, but his pride and joy was the time he spent with his own team, the Lubbock Wrecking Crew, and his time working with Trinity Softball and Firecrackers. He always said a bad day at the softball field was better than a good day at work. Those were the memories he cherished the most, the ones made on fields all across Texas. He would have done anything for “his girls” and he never missed a moment to brag on them.

In 2013 he got his “man dog” , Cici. His precious angel princess was his loyal companion until his passing. It was also the same year he began his new calling in education. He began working at Smylie Wilson middle school as a teacher’s aide. And just like with anything, he could not do anything less than his best. He cared so much for all of his students, and always hoped to see great things from them. In 2019 he moved, along with his wife and daughter, to Liberty Hill, TX where he worked at Leander High School until his passing.
Todd loved so many things, softball, Pink Floyd, Outlaw Country, good cooking, being ornery, and honey buns, but most of all he loved laughing with his family. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. Ryan is survived by his wife Tracy Ryan of Liberty Hill, daughter Morgan Ryan English, son-in-law Scott English of Pflugerville, father Tommy Ryan, mother Judy Kelly Ryan, sister Kelly Ryan Clark, brother-in-law Jason Clark, niece Savannah Clark Barkley, and nephew Ryan Clark of Lubbock, TX.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents Ruel Ryan and Mary Alta Ryan, and Alton and Avis Greenfield.

Todd passed on the 17th of July after 56 years of life.

It is the family’s wish that any donations go to the Wounded Warrior Project or St. Jude Children’s hospital.

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