Timothy Edmund Ryan

Timothy Edmund Ryan—gardener of souls, teller of tall tales, Scrabble champion of the century, and part-time explosives enthusiast—passed away on May 18th, 2025, surrounded by spring wildflowers and the echoes of laughter he left everywhere he went.

Born in Russellville, Kentucky, on December 9th, 1947, Tim finally settled in Brasstown, North Carolina, drawn by the artistic heartbeat of the John C. Campbell Folk School. There, he flourished as the resident gardener and taught countless classes on Appalachian kettle cooking, blacksmithing, bonsai, and cherished leading his wildflower identification hikes. His relationship with bonsai was as complex and tender as the trees themselves—an art form through which he explored nature, patience, and the joy of helping others reconnect with the earth and themselves.

But don’t let the Zen of it all fool you—Tim Ryan was also a raconteur par excellence. A five-time winner of the local Lies & Pies competition, he once took his Dr. Ryan’s Traveling Medicine Show on the road entertaining crowds for years with the unforgettable slogan: “My elixir will fix’er!” That show was only slightly less explosive than his legendary anvil shoots, which delighted party-goers and once cost him a thumb and half a pinky—though he’d say it was a small price to pay for such a grand display.

He was also the most persuasive auctioneer the South has ever seen. If Tim was on the mic, you were going home with something you didn’t know you needed to support his charitable organizations. That was just Tim: full of generosity, surprises, and usually some kind of dessert.

A voracious reader, Tim left behind a kingdom of 8,000+ books, and a legacy of never walking past a thrift store bookshelf without grabbing just one more. His intellect was wide-ranging, his Scrabble skills ruthless, and his joy for knowledge contagious.

One of Tim’s most cherished traditions was hosting Sunday brunches for students and faculty of the Folk School. These gatherings were a blend of homemade dishes, laughter, and spirited debates. For many, these brunches were where lifelong friendships were formed and where Tim, ever the generous host, made everyone feel like family.

But above all else, Tim was a devoted grandfather, father, and friend. He delighted in his grandchildren, Chloe (10) and Felix (8), who will grow up knowing their grandfather could grow a tree, launch an anvil, and win a tall tale contest—all in the same afternoon. He is survived by his daughter Cory Ryan, son-in-law Tom Hudson of Austin, TX, his beloved sister Ruth, brother-in-law Steve Kizer, nieces Katie and Jeanette Kizer, nephew Jim Kizer, and his extended Kentucky family who loved him dearly. He was preceded in death by his father James EdmundRyan, and his mother Mary Ella Ryan.

In keeping with his wishes, Tim’s body has been donated to the Western Carolina Forensic Investigation Department. Even now, he’s still teaching, still giving, and still part of the natural cycle he loved so deeply.

A memorial in his honor will be held at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC on Saturday, August 9th, 2025 at 4pm, followed by a potluck dinner.

Tim Ryan was one of a kind—a wildflower in a world of grass, a renaissance man with a twinkle in his eye, and a laugh that could light up a mountain hollow.

May we all live half as fully.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to: Hinton Center: https://hintoncenter.org/donate/ & Gardening & Nature Studies at John C. Campbell Folk School: https://www.folkschool.org/giving/fund-a-need/support-gardening-and-homesteading/