Patricia Jean Ryder

After a short battle with lung cancer, Patricia Jean Ryder, 73, died peacefully October 5, 2014 at her home in Centennial, Colorado, surrounded by her loving family. Born July 4, 1941 in Burlington, Iowa, she was the adopted daughter of Ralph Robertson and Esther Martino Rovn Edwards. She grew up in Centerville, Iowa. Pat graduated from the University of Iowa and Mercy School of Nursing in 1964 and worked for many years as a nurse at Great Oaks Center, a mentally handicapped facility in Silver Spring, MD. She retired after 20 years and spent several years in England with her husband, John Ryder. The rugged Yorkshire moors came to be a second home to her, and long after she returned to the states, she would fondly recall that time and the friends she made there. Her heart's home, however, lay in the mountains of Colorado. When Pat moved here almost 20 years ago, she undertook many pilgrimages to the Rocky Mountains, and she fell in love with the flora and fauna of the region. Those who know her will well remember her home mural representing her love of Colorado: mountains, goats, columbines, and aspen trees. Even in her last days of her illness, she loved nothing better than sitting at her kitchen table and looking out at Pikes Peak. Pat valued above all things the time she was able to spend with her three granddaughters, sharing her passions for the mountains and their animals. She loved watching her granddaughters grow and enjoyed celebrating their lives and achievements through pictures and videos. It became a family tradition to spend Christmas mornings together and then visit the Denver Zoo lights. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She enjoyed her time working in the church's library. A member of PEO for 5 decades, she served as president of the local PEO chapter for several years, among holding other offices. Her hobbies included crafts, macramé, and card making. She enjoyed looking at pictures of animals, especially wild and wooly sheep. She loved spending time with her many cherished friends. Pat is survived by her beloved husband John ""Jack"" Ryder; two daughters, Jean Singley-Bailey (husband, Dale Bailey) and Karen Collins (husband, Keith Collins); three granddaughters, Carson Bailey, Abigail Collins and Lila Collins; sister, Nancy Minor (husband, William Minor); nieces, Sherrilyn Fyock and Karrilyn Storts; and treasured friends. She will be dearly missed. A service will be held for Pat on Thursday, October 9, 2014, 11:00am, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 21750 E. Dorado Ave., Centennial, CO. Memorial remembrances may be made in Pat's name to: The University of Colorado Cancer Fund 13001 E. 17th Place Mail Stop A065 Aurora, CO 80045 Online: http://www.cucancercenterfund.org/donate/give-now/ OR The Make a Wish Foundation of Colorado 7951 E. Maplewood Ave. Suite 1 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Online: https://colorado.wish.org/ways-to-help/giving/donate