David Jerry Ryals Sr., age 72, of Lakeside Village, Texas, on Lake Whitney, passed away Wednesday, June 18, 2014, in Temple, Texas.
Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 P.M., Saturday June 21, 2014 in the Lawson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Chad Lewis officiating. Interment will be at the Brazos Point Cemetery. There will be no formal visitation.
David was born in the Lanham Mill Community in Somervell County, near Glen Rose, Texas. He was raised in the Glen Rose and Stephenville areas. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy at the age of 17 and served for several years. He worked as a heavy equipment operator for various companies. He also worked overseas for some 10 years, a job he enjoyed. For 10 years, David worked for Zack-Burkett Construction before retiring in 2007. He was of the Baptist faith and was a life long member of the NRA.
He is survived by his sons, Jerry Ryals and wife, Gina, of Copperas Cove and James Ryals and wife, Shellie, of San Angelo; 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; sisters, Nancy Faye Holder of Whitney, Della Marie Dowell of Lakeside Village, Dois V. May of El Paso and Dora May Singleton of Waco; a brother, James B. Ryals of Logansport, LA.; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Cecil Stella Wood Ryals; a granddaughter, Peggy Sue Ryals and a brother, Howard Randolph Ryals.
Thoughts and memories may be sent to the family at www.lawsonfuneralhome.net
Arrangements by Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, Texas, 254-435-2792.