Mary Rita Collins “Mickey” Ryan, 93, of 75 Marion Avenue, passed away Friday, August 12, 2016 at the Pavilion at BRMC.
Born on December 12, 1922 in Bradford, she was a daughter of Harry J. Collins and Margaret Louise Booth Collins. She graduated from St. Bernard High School in 1940 and was chosen salutatorian of her class.
On November 22, 1948 in St. Bernard Church she married William L. Ryan, who preceded her in death on January 29, 1988.
Mickey was employed as a secretary for various companies her entire life, including Healy Petroleum, Hanley Brick, the office of doctors Roche, Luckett & Huff (and later, Herbert), the Bradford Airport, and the Bradford School District.
Her passions in life were writing and contesting. She was the author of many published articles and delighted in entering contests that relied on cleverly written entries, winning over 1000 prizes in her lifetime. In 1957 she wrote a Burma Shave jingle that was placed on the highway outside of Erie and which is included in the book, The Verse by the Side of the Road.
She was a longtime volunteer at the Bradford Landmark Society, ending her service there at the age of 92. She often traveled, visiting the Netherlands, France, California, Florida, North Carolina, Hawaii, and Virginia. She was a member of St. Bernard Church.
Surviving are her five children, Thomas W. Ryan (Olga Lagunova) of Butler; Lynne R. Hobbs (Thomas) of Bristow, VA; Sally Costik (John) of Bradford, Michael B. Ryan (Lisa) of Los Gatos, CA; and Kristin M. Claypool (Mark) of North East; eighteen grandchildren: Hillary Morgan, Zachary Ryan, Seth Ryan, Jacob Ryan, Nicholas Ryan, Matthew Hobbs, Nicholas Hobbs, Tavis Costik, William Costik, Cara Costik, Leah Costik, Benjamin Claypool, Daniel Claypool, Grace Claypool, Lily Ryan, William Ryan, Emi Ryan, and Milo Ryan; and six greatgrandchildren: Harrison Hobbs, Penelope Hobbs, Samantha Morgan, Flynn Morgan, Parker Ryan and Magnolia Ryan.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Geraldine Farrar Collins, in 1936.
Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am on Saturday, September 3, 2016 in St. Bernard Church with Fr. Dominic Monti, OFM, of St. Bonaventure as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bernard Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Memorials may be made to the Bradford Landmark Society, St. Bernard School, or the 50 Plus Club of St. Francis.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com