Juanita Tolar York Ryan

Juanita Tolar York Ryan passed away peacefully at home in the presence of family: daughter Anita Rowland and husband Joe, daughter Carolyn Isbell and husband Steve, and grandson, Bryan Isbell. Family members include grandchildren Cindy Lowe and husband Rick of Junction City, OR; Mark Nunley and wife Tami of Booneville, MS; and Delta Rector and husband Earl of Omaha, NE. Great grandchildren Alastar Nunley, Corrie Carmichael, Chance Nunley, Devin Pearson, Tori Pearson, Vanessa Rector, and Tanner Joe Rector and great-great granddaughter, Alex Nunley. She is survived by sister Helen Tolar Lathrop, brother Bobby Tolar, and special friends Pauline Counce, Rozelle Farris, and Helen Ward. She was preceded in death by parents Mark and Dessie Tolar and husbands William York and Holland Ryan. Juanita had a long and full life. After graduating from high school in 1944, she attended 2 years of business college in Jackson, MS. She married William H. (Bill) York and accompanied him to Alaska where she lived for over a decade enjoying camping, hunting, and raising two daughters with her husband. After his death, she returned to Mississippi taking a job as one of the first Head Start teachers with Mississippi Action for Progress. Juanita was a natural teacher and children loved her. In addition to 20 years as a Head Start teacher in Mississippi and later as an Even Start teacher in Cookeville, TN, she had a lifelong ministry in the Baptist church as Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher and church secretary. Juanita had a great sense of adventure and loved to travel. Just a few months before her death, she returned to Alaska for a road trip extending from Fairbanks to Valdez to Anchorage. She will be remembered most by her family and friends for her devotion to and love for her family, for her willingness to sacrifice self to serve others, and her wonderful sense of humor. The family will receive friends on Friday, December 28, 2012 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Booneville, MS from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. with the funeral service at the church at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Brother Ed. Lowery will conduct the services. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Booneville, MS