O’Neil K. Ryan

O’Neil Ryan, Jr. was born April 8, 1928 and deceased August 9, 2022.  He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana to O’Neil Ryan, Sr. and Aline Ryan.  They later moved to Texas where he graduated from Lubbock High School in 1947.  He began auto and truck mechanical work.  In 1949, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served thru the end of the Korean War in 1952.  He would later tell grandkids of the immense cold winters near the front lines of the war in Korea.  Upon returning home to Texas, he continued a career in mechanics.  He worked as a mechanic and machinist for the oil field and would later work for Clark Manufacturing Co. of Lubbock, specializing in earth mover equipment.  His department at Clark equipment actually specialized in testing the endurance of the new earth movers as they arrived from the Clark home company.

In December of 1954, he married Bettye Jo Swanner and became step-father to Jimmy Ray Swanner and Daniel Lee Swanner.  He would also become the granddad to Kevin Ray Swanner, Natalie Beth Swanner, Cole and Clark Swanner.  Upon retirement from Clark Equipment, they moved from Lubbock to Midland in 2000 so they could be near their youngest grandkids, Natalie, Clark and Cole.  They were members of First Baptist Church, Midland.

He is survived by wife, Bettye Ryan, son Jim Swanner and wife, Sandy of Dallas, TX, so, Dan Swanner and wife, Tina of Midland, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Our family would like to express our sincere appreciation to Hospice of Midland and Lowery In-Home Health Care.

Any donations may please be made to the Kenya Widow and Orphans Fund, c/o Golf Course Road Church of Christ, Midland, Texas.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland.  Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.

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