Ryan's Life Story
Ryan Christopher Edens passed away peacefully while surrounded by family and loved ones on April 14th, 2024 in Portland, Oregon after a short but aggressive battle with cancer. He was born July 24th, 1990 in Upland, California to two proud parents, Marcia and Ken Edens. Growing up, he would come to call California, Florida, and Oregon home. With each state he gained new passions. In California, he found a love for the water and the beach and loved to spend hours watching as neighbors would work on their cars. In Florida, his incredible passion for cooking began with his waffle maker and George Forman grill. In Oregon, he adopted a deep love for nature and the outdoors and became an avid camper and mountain biker. He also had a love for music that would take him all over the country.
After graduating from high school, Ryan had a variety of jobs, each more technical than the last. He thrived when it came to solving problems and would seek out creative challenges. A deep thinker by nature, Ryan delighted in asking probing questions and exploring solutions on personal, relational, and technical levels. In the face of adversity, Ryan met challenges head-on with a blend of grace, humor, and unwavering positivity. His caring nature always seemed to shine through in every situation, as he extended a helping hand to others even amidst his own struggles. Those who knew him cherished his unique sense of humor and admired his zest for life. He loved to have fun, dance, be outdoors, and go on hikes. Ryan loved people and loved life. He also loved God and enjoyed deep dialogue on the goodness of God. As Ryan embarks on his next journey with Jesus and sets off on a heavenly adventure, we can imagine he’s continuing his thought-provoking dialogues with God. Although he’s no longer with us physically, his spirit lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him and will be deeply missed.
Ryan is survived by his mother and stepfather, Marcia & Chris; siblings, Joshua and his wife Danielle as well as their daughter Sadie, Tiffany and her husband James as well as their son Kenji; grandparents Marshall and his wife Eveline, and Darlene. Preceded in death is Ryan’s father, Ken and his grandparents Bill and Carol. He is also survived by his special friend Carly Hanratty