Mary Esther Ryan

Mary Esther Ryan was called Home to the Lord, while in the loving presence of her family, on Saturday, June 23rd, 2018 after a lengthy battle with cancer, she was 71 years old.  Mary was born on October 3rd, 1946 in Zanesville, Ohio to Clovis and Florence (Weigand) Fritter.  Mary was a loving, caring and devoted wife to her husband, Dale, whom she married on December 25th, 1966.  She is well known in the area for her devotion to music and her dedication to playing the Organ, Handbells, and the Piano in numerous local churches.  Her love of God, people, and her community was obvious to anyone who spoke with her.  She was a tender and caring soul.  Mary worked for many years as a school teacher; retiring in 2010 and continuing her contribution to education by serving many roles in the P.E.O.  She graduated from John Glenn High School in 1964, and Muskingum College in 1968.  She retired from teaching after 30 years at the end of the 2009-2010 school year, and retired as an organist after 42 years at the New Concord United Methodist Church on February 4th, 2018.  Music was her life; she began singing in choir at the age of three, and was playing music in church when she was five years old.  She practiced her craft in numerous churches including the Main Ave Methodist Church of Byesville, the First Baptist Church of Cambridge from 1964 to 68, the Faith United Methodist Church of Cambridge for 13 years, and of course, her treasured 42 years with NCUMC.  She accompanied the Lions Club Minstrels, and the Traveling Country Christian Choir with Betty Ward, played over 1,000 weddings, anniversaries, funerals, and a bar mitzvah.  Her smile, her love, her hope, and her music will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

                She is survived by her husband, Dale Ryan, her children, Scott (Melissa) Ryan, Brenda Ryan, Randy (Michelle) Ryan, and Pamela (Jason) Bennett, her grandchildren, Courtney Ryan, Caitlyn Ryan, Allyson Foster, Joshua Ryan, Zachary Ryan, Noah Ryan, and Austin and Jacob Bennett.  She will be missed by her brother, Roger (Marsha) Fritter, her nieces and nephews including Mike Fritter, and Michelle (Jarrod) Norman, Doug & Kristin Fritter and their children, Aidan, Aubrey, Tracy & Shellie Fritter and their son, Lathan, her Great-Niece, Ashley Fritter and her nephews on Dale’s side, including Kevin (Barbara) Addis and their daughter, Elisabeth Addis, Alan (Paige) Addis and their children Jacob and Taylor, Kris & Karl Gregory, and her children as well as her sisters and brothers-in-law, and her Amish Friends. She will live on in the hearts of her Special Friends, Helen, Debbie, Dave, Monica, and Drake.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, William Fritter in 1959 and Alvin Fritter in 2010, and her Aunt Esther Weigand.

                Friends and family are welcome to attend Calling Hours for Mary at the New Concord United Methodist Church, 20 E High St, New Concord, OH 43762 on Thursday, June 28th from 4 to 8PM, with services taking place the following day on Friday, June 29th with a calling hour beginning at 10AM, and services starting at 11AM.  Rev. Craig Redecker will officiate services and burial will follow at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the John Glenn High School Alumni association, 13505 John Glenn School Road, New Concord, Ohio 43762.

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