Park Ryker, Jr.
June 6, 1936 - July 2, 2007
Obituary
Rodney “Park” Ryker, Jr.
Rodney “Park” Ryker, Jr. was born June 6, 1936 in Ellensburg,
Washington. The eldest son of Rodney Park Ryker and Kathryn Blanche
Ives Ryker. He was taken away July 2, 2007, surrounded by his family.
Park Ryker was preceded in death by his parents, Rodney Park and
Kathryn Blanche Ives Ryker of Federal Way and his brother George C
Ryker of Bellingham. He is survived by his wife, soul-mate, constant
companion and business partner of ten years, Jean Ryker, of Port
Angeles; son, Jeffrey L Thom and daughter-in-law Tamara M Thom of
Sammamish; daughters, Lisa Kay Evenson and son-in-law Bradley Thomas
Evenson of Federal Way, Andrea Paige Ray-Anderson and son-in-law
Stoney Evan Anderson of Auburn, Amy Beth Myers and son-in-law Charly
Ralph Myers Jr. of Bellingham; Nancy Ryker, his former wife of 35
years; stepchildren Diana Lee Perrault of Portland, Oregon; Daniel J
Park of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho; Sheila Jean Malik and stepson-in-law
Steven Leonard Malik of San Francisco, California.
Park had 15 grandchildren; Jeremy Robert Thom, Danielle Nicole Thom-
Lucas, Lauren Christine Thom, Jacqueline Janee Evenson, Jessica Rae
Evenson, Breann Noel Evenson, Nichole Brittany Ray, Katherine Christa
Ray, Jalynn April Ray, Braden Roy Ray, Ariel Jean Anderson, McKenzie
West Myers, Zachary Jordan Myers, Megan Maria Myers, and Christopher
Tyler Perrault.
Park was blessed with a strong life force. His love of life was
evident in everything he did. He embraced life fully, completely and
without fear. His faith in mankind made him see only possibilities
and potential—how good we can all be. Park was honest, hardworking,
unpretentious and always ready to help anyone in need. His
charismatic nature and strength were magnets to others. He embodied
goodness and inspired those who admired him. We miss him very much.
As a successful and talented engineer and builder, Park cared less
for personal profit than working for the sheer love of work and
helping others. Park ardently believed that every young family
should own a home, often short-changing himself to make the American
Dream come true for many.
In a letter to his mother at the age of nine, Park described his love
for the board game ‘Monopoly’ and his dream of becoming a road
engineer. Prophetic words from a precocious child. Following his
graduation in 1954 from Roosevelt High School in Seattle, Park
completed his B.S. in Engineering at the University of Washington in
1958. Summer breaks from college were spent working for the
Washington State Forest Service, including a six-month stint as Party
Chief constructing Hurricane Ridge Road in the Olympic National Forest.
In a career spanning nearly 50 years, Park contributed his talents to
several companies. As Projects Manager with Weyerhaeuser he managed
the development of Jay Peak, a Vermont ski resort. Park was also an
integral part of LDL, a land development company that surely fostered
his desire to create and construct. In 1967 Park was commended in
King County Resolution #162 for emergency work performed under
“almost impossible conditions” for “no reason or incentive other than
his own fine sense of aiding people in real need and his desire to
serve his community.” In 1974 he formed Ryker Construction and
Engineering, Inc, a land development company, realizing his dream of
independence.
Park knew from very early on that he wanted to create a retreat to
which he could retire. In 1982 he purchased Ryker’s Ridge in Port
Angeles, Washington. Fiercely independent, he had created a living
testament to nature and self-sufficiency, a place where he could work
and meditate in nature, and a playground for his children and
grandchildren. Ryker’s Ridge is the essence, and an extension of,
Park Ryker. In 2003 Park and Jean permanently settled on the
property. His spirit can still be felt there.
A Remembrance Celebration for Park will be held at Ryker’s Ridge on
Saturday, July 14th, 2007, beginning at 1:00pm. For directions
contact Lisa Evenson @ 253-350-6126.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:
Washington’s National Park Fund / Directed to: the Olympic National
Forest / Attn: Amy Walgamott / P.O. Box 4646 / Seattle, WA 98194.
I knew Park in grade school Ravenna in Seattle and we shared time, dates and many experiences there and through high school. We shared the same fraternity at UW, and Park shared his care for us serving as “best man” at our 1958 wedding. As we entered high school Park gathered a few of us to organize a music group. Our practice song was “Sentimental Journey.” His life reflected the words of that tune, and for those he has now left behind, we must travel on life’s journey with one less partner and friend.
Dear Jean,
It was so nice talking to you today and I grieve for your loss of Park. Our husbands had a lot in common and perhaps they are even sharing stories today up there. I just talked to Kerry and he said that absolutely no one could say a bad word about Park–a real stand-up guy. Lovingly,
Letter coming. Mary F.
I had the privilege of being with Park only once – for several days – about Christmas ’04 or ’05, marking his property lines for his Ridge property. As a forester I do this for a living and usually work alone. It was a lot of tough ground to traverse, but Park wanted to be there every step of the way – and he called it fun!
I’ll always remember him as a man that didn’t “work”, but instead accepted “challenge”. Whoever said “…took life by the horns…” must have met Park.
I pray that God rests his soul.