A celebration of life to remember Patricia ‘Pat’ McHale Ryan, 76, of Hoschton, is scheduled for Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church, 1450 Pine Road Dacula, Georgia. Family will be greeting attendees beginning at 1:00 p.m. A reception after the service with the family will follow.

Mrs. Ryan passed away Thursday, October 6, 2022, peacefully in her home surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer.

Born March 13, 1946 in Winter Haven, Florida, she was the daughter of late Elmer and Margaret Winderweedle McHale.

Pat graduated from Winter Haven High School in 1964, and during that time, was awarded Miss FFA Sweetheart for the state of Florida. Upon graduating, she went on to the University of South Florida, graduating in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. She also met her husband of 50 years, John Andrew Ryan, at USF. Pat began her teaching career in Tampa at Chamberlin High School, and continued for eighteen years as a music educator in Hillsborough county, as a traveling music teacher in a number of elementary schools, as well as the primary music teacher at John B. Gorrie Elementary and Mendenhall Elementary.

In 1988, Pat and her family moved to St. Mary’s, Georgia where she continued her career at Crooked River Elementary and St. Mary’s Elementary, being the first full-time elementary music teacher hired for Camden County. In 1990, she was voted Teacher of the Year for the county. She went on to become the chorus teacher at Camden County High School where she built the choral department to a full-time, successful, thriving program. Under her leadership, she took her students on trips to Toronto, Quebec, London, Paris, Disney and various chorus competitions, receiving Superiors in All-State. During this time, she earned her Masters of Education from Troy College, and later, her Specialist in Education for Curriculum and Development from Cambridge College in Boston. She was also certified in both Orff and the Kodály method. Along with her vibrant professional career, she was employed at Kingsland United Methodist Church as the organist.

In 2003, Pat and John moved to Snellville, Georgia and continued teaching at Annistown Elementary. She retired from education in 2012 after a long and rewarding career as a music teacher and choral director for forty-two years.

Pat and John moved to Hoschton, Georgia in 2013. She served alongside John as an active member of Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church, singing in the choir and participating in their Sunday school class as well as Bible studies. Her retirement years were filled with camping, travels overseas to Italy and Japan, and time spent with her children and grandchildren and great-granddaughters. In her life, she was an avid water skier, talented pianist and gifted vocalist, but her greatest love, outside of her faith and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, was her deep love of her husband and family.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, John Ryan of Hoschton, Georgia; son Greg Ryan and daughter-in-law, Carrie of Cornelia, Georgia; son Joshua Ryan and daughter-in-law, Harmony of Juneau, Alaska; son Noah Ryan and daughter-in-law, Christina of Dacula, Georgia; grandchildren Zach Ryan and wife Emily of Duluth, Georgia; Courtney Ryan Cain and husband Brandon of Toccoa, Georgia; Parker Ryan, Davis Ryan, Emerson Ryan and Brooks Ryan of Dacula, Georgia; Saylor Ryan and Drew Ryan of Juneau, Alaska; great-granddaughters Piper Cain and Hallie Cain of Toccoa, Georgia; great-granddaughter on-the-way, Adeline ‘Della’ Eloise Ryan; brother Dennis McHale of St. Petersburg, Florida; sister Judy Lippeatt of West Blocton, Alabama; nieces and nephews and extended family.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, donations to the Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church food pantry can be made through the various methods described in this link - In memory of Pat Ryan. https://hmumc.org/give

Please do not order flowers.