Martha Ann Ryan

Every morning when Mom awoke to the New Mexico sunshine coming through the window she would say-“It looks like a beautiful day!” Even on cloudy days her smile and laugh were like the sun and she uplifted everyone in her presence with her kind heart. On July 7, 2023, Martha Ann Christensen Ryan left this earthly life and joined her beloved Duane, who died three months earlier. It’s comforting to imagine their happy reunion.

The rest of us are left with memories and the wonderful stories she shared. Martha was born February 22, 1936 on George Washington’s birthday–and named for his wife, Martha. Family legend tells us that, were she a boy, the name would be George! She was the fourth of five children born to Dorothy and John Christensen in Lewistown, Montana. When the children were young, the family moved to Southern California and John worked for the shipyards. Martha relished being a “California girl” and began her life-long love of the beach while growing up there.

Following high school, Martha attended El Camino Junior College and UCLA studying theatre and literature. She put her many talents to good use there, from starring center-stage in several productions to designing and sewing the costumes. She was a skillful seamstress, sewing many of her own clothes, including her wedding dress. Through the years she sewed and donated wedding dresses for women that couldn’t afford one; she made most of her children’s clothing– from baby clothes through high school; and created epic Halloween costumes for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

One afternoon after college classes, a mutual friend took Martha to an ice cream stand owned by the young, handsome Duane Ryan. That was the beginning of their love story. The couple transferred to Brigham Young University where they participated in the theatre program, often acting in the same productions. They married on April 3, 1959 in the Salt Lake City temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Martha loved Duane (and ice cream) whole-heartedly throughout the rest of her life.

After graduating from BYU, the newlyweds settled in Ephraim, Utah. Duane taught at Snow College and Martha used her artistic abilities to create costumes for their theatre productions. They traveled for a couple of summers to Michigan, working as actors for Summer Stock, putting on ten plays in ten weeks, with their first three young children in tow.

Martha and Duane performed as the first narrators for a long-running Mormon history pageant, presented on the temple grounds of Manti, Utah.

While at Snow College, Duane was offered a teaching opportunity at Eastern New Mexico University. He visited Portales during a windstorm, and was a little ambivalent about making the move from Utah. Martha was encouraging and said “Let’s go! It will be an adventure.” The two made Portales home, raising their five kids there.

Duane and Martha loved the town of Portales and their community. While her children were young, Martha, a natural teacher, led Camp Fire Girls and Cub Scout troops. During the summers, she taught drama classes for children and directed plays for the Summer Recreation Program in the old Memorial Building. Since she never drove a car, she enjoyed walking and bicycling all over Portales. When her children were a bit older, she officially became an ENMU Greyhound and earned her Master’s Degree in English. She then taught Freshman English and writing classes at ENMU.

The Ryan home was a warm, welcoming, happy place. Martha loved to read aloud and was a vivid storyteller and expert punster. Silliness, laughter and fun accompanied the hours of playing Scrabble, Chinese Checkers and other games with her children and grandchildren. Quieter times were spent drawing and writing little stories together.

Martha filled her home with music. She played the piano by ear and had a beautiful singing voice. She composed music for children’s plays that she wrote. When her five children were born, Martha composed a tune for each of them with music and sweet lyrics, doing the same for her grandchildren. Music was a joyful part of her life, and just about everything reminded her of a song. “She knew so many song lyrics and was never too bashful to just sing them aloud when they sprang to mind, no matter what we were doing,” writes granddaughter Tessa Chrisman. She enjoyed watching “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Mary Poppins,” and other old musicals with her grandchildren. And oh, how they love her and miss her! As a grandmother, she was known by many names of endearment, such as “Pink Grandma” (because of her nightgown) and “Mimi.”

Her blessed life was not without trials–in 1992 she was in a horrific car accident that crushed both of her femur bones. After a remarkably successful surgery, there was a long, slow recovery. She was eventually able to walk again, with difficulty. Toward the end of her life, there were multiple health issues and waning memory. Duane and their children cared for her with devotion. After Duane’s death, Martha moved in with her daughter Marla’s family in Rio Rancho, NM who continued her care until she died peacefully in her sleep three months later.

Though she is flying free, we miss her terribly. Until we meet again, and she says, “Oh, hello, Honey-bun!” with that dazzling smile.

Martha is survived by her children Tamara Ryan Polich (Steve Polich), Michael Ryan, (Rebecca Ryan), Marla Ryan Chrisman, (Brad Chrisman), John Ryan, (Shan Ryan), David Ryan (Donna Daymon Ryan), eighteen grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren; her brother James Neil Christensen and many dear nieces and nephews. Martha was preceded in death by her siblings Dorothy, William and Mary Elaine; great-grandson Declan Emmet Carroll, and her beloved husband of 64 years, Duane Ryan, who died on April 6th of this year, 2023.

A graveside service will take place August 5th at 1:30 PM at the Heber City Cemetery, Heber City, Utah.