Michael K. Ryan
Michael Kelly Ryan, 87, of Saranac Lake, died Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at Elderwood of Uihlein following a short illness.
Born in Malone on April 11, 1931, he was the son of Michael and Grace (Hodges) Ryan. Michael married Doris E Jarvis on April 19, 1952 in St. Bernard’s Church, Msgr. James R, McClure officiating. Doris predeceased him on Feb. 25, 1994.
Mike attended and graduated from St. Columba’s School in Schenectady on June 1949. He later attended the McAllister School of Embalming and Funeral Directing in New York City graduating in December of 1950. Mike had worked as a funeral director in Saranac Lake for over 60 years. He started and completed his funeral directing apprenticeship Jan. 4, 1951 at the Keough and Son Funeral Home. On April 28, 1952, he went on to serve in the United States Army, 609 Graves Registration Company in Verdun and Metz France and the 7770 USAREUR QM Mortuary Service Department in Nurnberg and Frankfurt Germany and was honorably discharged April 7, 1954. Mike returned to Saranac Lake in 1954 and went to work for the Fortune Funeral Home.
His funeral directing career came full circle when the Keough and Son and Fortune Funeral Homes merged in 1991. Mike continued to work for the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home until his retirement in 2014.
Sincerely proud of his Irish heritage, he enjoyed visiting Ireland, England and Scotland. Mike is a life member of the Saranac Lake Elks Club BPOE 1508 for 62 years. He also belonged to the Elks Friday Night bowling league for 18 years and was a member of the Saranac Lake Lions Club, VFW and American Legion. He was a lifelong dedicated fan of the NY Giants and Notre Dame, Syracuse and Duke Basketball.
He is survived by four children: Michelle (Robert) Ryan-Rivers of Roswell, Georgia, Michael Kelly Timothy Patrick (Andrea) Ryan of Washington, D.C., Mitchell M. Ryan of Surfside Beach, S.C., and Murphy Richard (Deanna) Ryan of Saranac Lake; seven grandchildren: Patrick Ryan (Irina) Rivers of Atlanta, Georgia, Kelly (Kate) Rivers of Atlanta, Georgia, Nicholas Murphy Ryan of Fallbrook, California, Carson Hays Ryan of Saranac Lake, Michael Ryan of Washington, D.C., Timothy and Shannon Ryan of South Carolina; several cousins, including Kevin Kelly Ryan and James Coffey of Plattsburgh and Jane Coffey Koshuta of Saratoga, as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his triplet siblings Marshall and Martin Ryan, and Marilyn Ryan O’Connor.
Calling hours will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 31, at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac La. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, June 1, at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake with the Rev. Clyde Lewis and the Rev. Patrick Ratigan officiating. Burial will follow at North Elba Cemetery in Lake Placid.
Friends wishing to remember Michael Kelly Ryan may make memorial contributions to Carmelite Monastery or Saranac Lake Free Library in care of the funeral home.
Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.