Obit of Ryan, Gloria F - Okmulgee County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 29 Nov 2009 Return to Okmulgee County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okmulgee/okmulgee.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::NOT LISTED Ryan, Gloria F. GLORIA F. RYAN SEPT. 18, 1926 - SEPT. 5, 2006 Gloria F. Ryan, 79, of Modesto, died Monday, Labor Day, at her family home in Modesto, surrounded by her loving family. Gloria was born in Henryetta, OK and as a young child in 1933, moved to Modesto with her parents, Tom and Lola Ryan and sister, Evelyn. Gloria attended local schools and while at Modesto High School, studied music under Professor Frank Mancini. Proof instilled in her a love of music that led her through a career as a professional musician - and an adventure that lasted a lifetime. An accomplished Saxophonist, Gloria first learned the E-Flat Alto Sax, moved on to the Tenor (which was her favorite) and then the Baritone (almost bigger than she was). She gave up the clarinet early on, in that the melodious sounds of the saxophone captured her heart. In 1946, while listening to the Debutones, an all girl combo per- forming at the Ranch on Hwy 99 in Modesto, the sax player quit and Gloria was asked to sit in. She did, and her musical career was launched. Moving to Chicago, Gloria spent several years playing in nightclubs around the country with the Debutones as well as numerous USO shows. In 1950, auditions were being held for the Hormel Girls Caravan, a newly formed group under the auspicious of George A. Hormel. Gloria auditioned and was invited to join. The Caravan, as it was called, consisted of 65 women musicians, instrumentalists, singers and dancers who toured the country in 65 identical Chevrolet Impalas, introducing new Hormel products to the local grocers by day and preparing for their performance on weekend. The Caravan was disbanded in 1954 and Gloria continued with her music. She formed her own 11 piece orchestra, Moon-Glo performing on the west coast for several years. Her last gig was playing her beloved Tenor Sax in a Combo on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2006, just five months prior to her death, in Jamestown, CA where she had recently purchased her summer home. In retrospect, how fitting that this gig was on St. Paddy's Day - a tribute to her true Irish Spirit! While all the successes of her musical career are too numerous to recapture here, Gloria was a member of Mo Band in the 1930's (then, the Stanislaus County Boys Band) and the first woman musician to play with Len Hickson's Orchestra in Oakdale. Whenever her sax was not in her hands, Gloria held accounting positions with the old Modesto Lumber Yard, Lan Lay Company of San Francisco, and before retiring, the personal assistant to Rose Resnick at the Rose Resnick Center for the Blind and Handicapped in San Francisco. Gloria is survived by her beloved sister, Evelyn L. White of Modesto, CA, her loving and caring nephew, Pat (Margaret) White of Coer 'd Alene, ID, her loving and caring niece, Carole (Murdock) Smith of Sacramento, CA, her great nieces and nephews, Randy (Malinda), Ronda, Ron (Krissy), Tammy (Michael) and Shawn, and her great great nieces and nephews, Ashley, Tanner, Taylor Dylan, Cameron, Nicholas and Ryan. Private services to be held at a later date. Remembrances may be made to Optimal Hospice Care, 122 W. Granger Ave., Modesto, CA 95350. The family wishes to extend our heartfelt thank you to the staff of Optimal Hospice, who made this journey with us, in every way, all the way. We are very grateful. www.modbee.com/obituaries Published in the Modesto Bee on 9/7/2006. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Okmulgee County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okmulgee/okmulgee.html