Ryan Staker
February 18, 1979 — June 22, 2014
Ryan Val Staker
February 18, 1979 - June 22, 2014
Ryan Val Staker, a unique and talented soul, passed away June 22, 2014. He was born February 18, 1979 to S. Val Staker and Sandra L. Miller.
Ryan graduated from Hillcrest High School in 1997. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout and served an LDS mission to Calgary Canada from 1999-2001. Ryan was an active and fun-loving person who loved outdoor activities, including hunting and fishing. He was also an expert motorcycle, snowmobile and race-car driver. Between his junior and senior years of high school, Ryan sustained a spinal injury and was immobilized that entire summer. The back injury would cause him a great deal of pain and discomfort his entire life. Ultimately, the chronic back problem led to him being confined to a wheelchair the last 3 years of his life as a result of a spinal stroke.
Ryan was a business entrepreneur from an early age, starting his own company (RVS Striping) at age 17, which continues to operate under the direction of his best friend and business partner, Kevin Paxton. He also established Squirts Car Wash in Riverton, Utah. Ryan contributed in planning and developing Monarch Meadows, a 200-acre mixed-use development in Riverton, Utah, consisting of 990 single family homes and townhomes, 248 apartment units, 3 community parks, 2 LDS church buildings, 1 middle school, retail pads and storage units. He also participated in other real estate development through the family firm (The Staker Company). On a personal level, he designed and built his “dream home” (mostly garage space) in Draper, Utah, at age 26.
Ryan was a warm, tender, giving person and made everyone feel important. He could always “sniff-out” or “read” situations and people as to their objectives/motives, and always sided with the “underdog” or those less fortunate that had pure motive and good intent. He was continually at the assistance of those who needed him.
Ryan was fun to be with whether he was “leading the pack” to the top of the next hill or turning off his dive buddies’ air at many Caribbean dive locations which he visited. Many were on the receiving end of Ryan’s practical jokes.
Despite all his trials and afflictions, Ryan had a deep and abiding conviction of the gospel of Jesus Christ, though he was not one to “wear it on his sleeve”.
He leaves behind parents S. Val Staker and Sandra L. Martin (Terry); brother Bradley V. Staker (Heather) and sister Kimberly Holmstrom (Mike); step-siblings Jacob Martin (Elspeth), Jason Kilgore (Amber), Emily Kilgore Olsen (Tom), Joshua Kilgore (Sara), Jacob Kilgore (Brianne), and Jared “Babe” Kilgore; 8 loving nieces and nephews; and his loyal dog Bodee. Ryan is preceded in death by his sister, Brittin Ann Staker; Grandparents Stuart H. and Donna M. Staker, Jack H. and Ila W. Miller. Married Brandi Hawker (divorced). Married Melissa Watrous (divorced).
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 28, 2014, 11:00 a.m. at the Cottonwood 2nd Ward, 2080 East 5165 South. Visitation will be held Friday, June 27, 2014 at the Cottonwood 2nd ward from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and the day of the service from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Interment Holladay Memorial Park.
The family extends a special thanks to: Kevin Paxton, a lifelong friend and business partner; Dr. Jeffery P. Rosenbluth and the crew at the U of U spinal cord injury unit; Randy Swartwood and the staff of At Home Personal Care; Darol Wagstaff, life coach and confidant; and all of the close family, friends and business associates who stuck with him “when the going got tough”.
Funeral Service