1930 - 2017
MILFORD - Mickey Ryan, 87, of Milford, passed away Wednesday afternoon, December 13, 2017, at the New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford where he was given compassionate care after he succumbed to Alzheimer's. Mickey loved life and people, worked hard and played even harder.
Born October 23, 1930, at home in the Town of Hamptonburgh, he was the son of Edward and Helen (Cutler) Ryan.
He grew up in Maybrook where he was known for his baseball abilities. He continued to play baseball and later softball into his fifties. Mickey met his future wife, Carma Perrego at a skating rink in Newburgh -- he always said she was the prettiest girl there. On October 21, 1951, Mickey and Carma were married in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newburgh.
He proudly served his country in the United States Navy on the USS Van Valkenburgh during the Korean Conflict. He often said that if he did not have a family, he would have made the Navy his career.
Mickey went on to run a dairy farm in Campbell Hall, which was located next to the fire hall where he was proud to have always been the first one to answer alarms. In 1963 he fulfilled his dream by buying his own dairy farm on the Hinman Hollow Road in Milford, where he and his wife raised their five children.
Mickey was very active in the Milford American Legion Post No. 1566 -- it was his second home. One of his favorite pastimes there was calling Bingo every Sunday night. He not only served as commander at the local level, but also served as the New York State American Legion Commander. Proud to be a lifetime member of the Milford Post, he was equally proud of being a lifetime member of the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7128 in Cooperstown.
During retirement from dairy farming, Mickey loved his work at the Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown, where his love of people shone through every day.
Mickey was predeceased by his beloved wife of 58 years, Carma Perrego Ryan, who died September 18, 2009; his mother, Helen Ryan, who died while Mickey was serving overseas in the Korean Conflict; his father, Edward Ryan; his sister, Sylvia Orman; his aunts who loved him as a mother, Lucy Coville and Ida Berberick; and his loving out-law, Ken Kiser, who died November 1, 2005.
Mickey is survived by his dear sister, Annie Snyder and husband, George of Campbell Hall; his five children, Patrick Ryan (Chris) of Campbell Hall, Deborah Kiser of Fly Creek, Mike Ryan (Chris) of Virginia Beach, VA, Sandy Strong (Mike) of Milford and Kelly Liner (Tom) of Cooperstown. He is also survived by his twelve grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, Michelle (Chuck), Alex and Riley Hite of Connecticut, Christopher (Melissa) and Bentley Kiser of Cortland, Kristin and Isabella "Bella" Strong of Milford, Melissa (Josh) Ashlyn and Owen Spriggs of Youngstown, Michael Kiser of Florida, Ashley (Adam) and Elizabeth Wetherbee of Connecticut, Alicia (Scott) and Ayla Flint of Cherry Valley, Sean (Riann) and Taylor Ryan of Connecticut, Ryan (Megan) and Adalynn Strong of Richfield Springs, Kyle (Paula) Liner, and Derek and Brooke Liner all of Cooperstown and Sierra Truax of Campbell Hall. There are many nieces and nephews who will also miss their Uncle Mickey.
Family and friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, December 17, 2017.
The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Monday, December 18, 2017, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding.
Burial with Military Honors will be held in the Spring of 2018 in Milford Cemetery.
Since music brought his mind back to life memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Music Therapy Department at the New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford, 4207 State Highway 220, Oxford, NY 13830. Memorial donations may also be made to the Milford American Legion Post No. 1566, P.O. Box 22, Milford, NY 13807 or to the Cooperstown Veterans Club, P.O. Box 1264, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
