Mylan Louise Ryan passed away on March 11, 2026, at the age of 94.
She was born on January 21, 1932, in Birmingham, Alabama, and was raised in Evergreen, Alabama.
Her life was centered on her faith and her family. She loved the Lord deeply and lived that faith each day through kindness, humility, and service to others. Her warm spirit made people feel at ease, and her laughter had a way of drawing others in. She never met a stranger and often left people smiling after a simple conversation or a well-timed joke.
Her sense of humor was well known in her church community. For a time, her jokes even became part of the Sunday service when the minister would call out to the congregation and ask if Mylan had a joke to share that morning. She always did.
Mylan spent many years serving students and educators in the Mobile County Public School System. She worked as a substitute teacher and later served as secretary to the principal and bookkeeper at Nan Gray Davis Elementary School. She cared deeply about the people she worked with and became a steady and trusted presence within the school community. Many students and educators remember her kindness, encouragement, and the way she made people feel valued.
Her love for the Lord was also reflected in the way she served her churches. Over the years, she played piano and organ for congregations at Fowl River, Theodore United Methodist, and Irvington. Music and worship were important parts of her life and faith.
Mylan was preceded in death by her parents: Hunter and Lillian Morgan; her husband of 49 years, James Lynwood Ryan; and her siblings: Gillis Morgan and MaryLillian Cross.
She is survived by her children: Katherine L. Moses and Charles W. Ryan, and his wife Donna Ryan.
She is also survived by her grandchildren: Autumn Tillman and her husband Tyler Tillman; Al Moses, Amanda Lessley and her husband James Lessley; Jacquelyn Ryan and her husband Chris Pownall; and Joie Bryant and her husband Chris Bryant, along with her cherished great grandchildren: Hunter Tillman, Kaitlin Tillman, Ryan Lessley, Ryder Lessley, Parker Pownall, Tate Pownall, Declan Heston, and Lily Bryant.
She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.
Her life was marked by faith, kindness, and service to others. Through her work in the Mobile County Public School System, the churches she faithfully served, and the family she loved deeply, she leaves behind a legacy that will continue for generations.
January 21, 1932 — March 11, 2026
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 6040 Three Notch Rd, Mobile, Alabama. The funeral service will immediately follow at 12:00 p.m. with the burial after the service at Mobile Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
