Ryan came into this world fearlessly. As soon as he could talk, he was chatting with everyone he met. In fact, he went through a phase where he would say, “Howdy” to anyone passing by. As he grew into a toddler the fearlessness shone — at 3 years old he would laugh and scream delightedly on a swing our neighbor rigged together, a swing that even the older kids were a little scared of! He wanted to do donuts on the jet ski and ride the roller coasters! We should’ve known he would be pushing the envelope until his very last day.

As a young man Ryan took the path less traveled. His fearlessness led him to places none of us have ever been, doing things we could never imagine. He was mischievous and a troublemaker, but my goodness was he funny and lovable through it all. No matter where he was, he made friends with everyone, but no one could ever corral him into the conventional way of life.

He drifted in and out of our lives, brushing up against death many times and laughing all the way. No matter how long it had been between conversations, when you caught up with him the love was always there. Slowly, substances took him from us one piece at a time. We will miss the son, brother, father and friend he was and who he could’ve been. We will miss his audaciousness, his humor and even his mischief. He was far from perfect, but he was ours.

Ryan is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Hoke D. Whisnant. He is survived by his mother Jackie W. DelMonico (Paul DelMonico), father Charles Matthew Pearce, sister Courtney F. Pearce, stepsister Mary Katherine Moore and husband Ben, grandmother Sylvia H. Whisnant, Uncle Richard E. Whisnant and Aunt Anne Marie Whisnant, grandparents Charles and Patricia Pearce, and Aunt Dawn P. Pearce.

He is also survived by his children Willow, Jackson, and Brooklyn, and significant other Angelina G. Miller.