Melbagene (Molly) Tull Ryan, 83, passed away Saturday, September 18, 2010.
She was born to Horace and Eunice Tull on January 6, 1927, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
Melbagene attended Arkadelphia Public Schools, received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Henderson State University, and her Masters of Science in Education from Texas Woman's University. While Melbagene was working on post-graduate studies at Texas Woman's University, she met Wayne Stuart Ryan. They were married December 26, 1954. Melbagene served as Director, Food and Nutrition Service for Irving Independent School District from 1958 to 1985.
Melbagene received many awards and professional acknowledgements during her years of service to nutrition excellence on the local, state, and national levels.
Melbagene loved the movie "Wizard of OZ". It was very fitting that she receive "The Ruby Slipper Award" recognizing her perseverance, tenacity and determination for many years to the Food Service Association. This award was voted on by her peers and was presented at the Food Service Association Conference June, 1985.
After her retirement from Food Services, Melbagene became involved in many community activities. All meetings had to be scheduled around her duties as head "Wrangler" of Ryan Ranch. She loved working alongside Wayne when doing ranch duties.
Melbagene was very active with the Denton County Historical Commission, Denton County Courthouse-On-The-Square Museum, and served on the Advisory Board of Lake Forest Good Samaritan Village. She was responsible for the Historical Marker for Old Alton Cemetery.
Melbagene was preceded in death by her loving husband, Wayne Stuart Ryan, her parents, and her brother and his wife, Bill and Dolores Tull. She is survived by her aunt, Margaret Moorman, Jim and Dani Tull of Oklahoma City, Bill and Jan Baker of Arlington, Grant and Ashley Baker of Denton, sister-in-law Phoebe Ryan Higginbotham of Denton, Ernest Higginbotham of Dallas, Rick and Pat Clark of Denton, Frank and Mary Beal of Plano, Fred and Deb Ryan of Sanger, Bob Ryan of Denton, Scott and Evelyn Langley of Sanger, Billy and Sarah Atkins of Krum, and several cousins.
Services will be at 11:00 AM Thursday, September 23, 2010 at Hickory Creek Baptist Church. Rev. Raymond Castro will officiate the service. Interment will follow at Old Alton Cemetery.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Denton County Museums, 110 W. Hickory St., Denton, Texas 76201; Old Alton Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 3096, Denton, Texas 76202; Hickory Creek Baptist Church, 5724 Teasley Ln., Denton, Texas 76210.