Lamont Pat Ryan

December 22, 1923 - May 18, 2017

Dateline: Swansea Lamont Pat Ryan Lamont Pat Ryan, 93, died Thursday, May 18, 2017. Born in McGee, Mississippi and a son of the late Lamont Pat and Willie Mae McNair Ryan, he was the husband of the late Helen Louise Case Ryan. Our Dad's life exemplifies the meaning of service. As a WWII Marine he fought in the battles of the Marshall Islands and Okinawa. His combat unit received the Presidential Citation of Valor for their actions at Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. Dad returned home to Laurel Mississippi after the war and in 1946 married our mother, Helen Louise Case. Shortly thereafter they moved to Wyoming where he attended the University of Wyoming and earned a degree in biology. He then went to work as a biologist in Jackson Hole for the Wyoming Wildlife Dept. In 1958 we moved to Greenwood, SC and Dad began his career as a biologist with the S.C. Dept. of Natural Resources. He rose quickly through the ranks and retired in 1987 as Director of Law Enforcement and Boating. During his career Dad was instrumental in restoring whitetail deer to the Western Piedmont and the wild turkey to the Central Piedmont. He also worked to upgrade the professional image and compensation for his officers. Dad returned to his farm in Swansea, Lonoke Vineyard, where he grew and marketed muscadines, blueberries and blackberries. He especially enjoyed pulling his green and white trailer to the #178 and #3 intersection where he sold his muscadines and boiled p-nuts and made lots of new friends. Our Dad instilled in us a love, appreciation and respect for nature and God's creation. Our vacations and family retreats were enjoyed at such gems as Bear Island, Belmont Plantation, Kiawah Island (before development) and the mountains of S.C. Dad was an accomplished outdoorsman and cast iron cook. In his later years, Dad laid down his rod and gun and spent hours observing nature. He dearly loved the call of the Bobwhite quail and would mimic their whistle and call them to him. A charitable man, Dad gave to others and his church. He was a member of King Grove Baptist Church. He lived his last days at Patrice and son-in-law, Mike's home where he was loved and comforted by his family. We would like to thank Mr. Dave Smith of Senior Express Transportation who for months drove Dad to his appointments and his beloved Lonoke Vineyard. Most importantly, Dad knew in his heart and soul, "blessed assurance Jesus is mine O' what a foretaste of glory divine". Surviving are two daughters, Patrice R. Buck (Mike) of Saluda and Joni R. Koon (Mike) of Cayce, seven grandchildren, Melissa Price (Chris), Jennifer Gentry (Matt), Alyson Jenkins (Brian), Katie Livingston (Adam), Whitney Buck, Pat Boozer (Joy Lynn) and Stacie Collins (Adam) and eighteen great-grandchildren. Dad was preceded in death by a brother, Darryl Ryan, a sister, Ann Starnes and a grandson, Ashley Boozer. A private service will be held. In lieu of flowers the family request a memorial in Dad's name be made to the Hampton Wildlife Fund. On the memo line please write SCDNR TOMO. The Take One Make One is a program for underprivileged youth designed to teach safe hunting practices.