Faye Wanell Ryan

Faye Wanell Ryan of Gatesville, passed away on January 8, 2024 surrounded by family.

Wanell was born on November 20, 1934 in Steiner, Texas to Faye & Joseph Weldon (J.W.) Long.

After Wanell graduated High School, she married James Samuel (Sammy) Pyburn, becoming a housewife and loving mother, raising 4 children. She worked as a Cake Decorator at Safeway for a time.  Once the children were grown, she remarried to R.E. Tex Ryan and began taking courses at the University of Houston, where she became a licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. She began her career as a Correctional Officer at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville and later became a Substance & Alcohol Abuse Counselor for TDCJ, eventually relocating to Gatesville, where she continued her vocation for helping others.

She was a member of Live Oak Baptist Church of Gatesville for many years.

Wanell retired from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDC) in Gatesville in 2000. She then pursued her interests as an accomplished artist, she enjoyed painting, playing the piano, sewing, quilt making, crafts and crochet. She really loved her coffee & her favorite show, Gunsmoke.  She also enjoyed fishing and she loved to cook meals for her family and she was a wonderful cook.  She made the world’s greatest Fudge, Divinity and Texas Trash! 

It’s really difficult to sum up in so few words what an amazing lady Wanell was, she was a loving Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt & friend. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Wanell was predeceased by her parents, Faye & Joseph (J.W)  Long, her brother and only sibling, Weldon Carl (W.C.) Long and his wife Virginia Long, and Wanell’s eldest daughter Taunia Rose and Son-in-Law, Scott Rose.

She is survived by her sons: James (Jimmy) Pyburn, his wife Sandy Pyburn, Samuel Brian (Brian) Pyburn and his wife Nancy (Cat) Etheridge, Daughter, Karen Lyle and friend Margie Dunham, Nephews: Ronald Long, Dale Long and Keith Long and their Spouses, 7 grandchildren: Misty Farrow (Joe Schultz), Terrill Pyburn (Gainey Maxwell), Devon Jimenez (Manuel Jimenez), Marissa Lyle, Aimee Pyburn (Casey Vas), George Lyle, Austin Rose & wife Brenisha Rose. Also, 7 great grandchildren: Cody Maxwell, Tyler Vas, Brielle (Hope) Goode, Sofia (Isabel) Sandoval, Carolina Henson, Hunter (Maria) Thorkelson and Beth (Karina) Henson.

The family would like to thank the staff of Gatesville Memorial E.R. & Hospital, Gatesville Wound Care and Bluebonnet Hospice for the care given to their loved one.

Waco Memorial Funeral Home is making the funeral arrangements. A small service will be held at Waco Memorial Funeral Home 6623 Interstate 35 S, Robinson, TX 76706, on Friday, January 12, 2024 at 2:00pm.

If you wish to make a donation, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association.