Patricia Jean Temaat Ryden

It is with heavy hearts that we had to say farewell to one of the kindest and most welcoming women that many of us had the pleasure and honor to know. Patricia Jean TeMaat Ryden passed away on February 14, 2023 – a most fitting day since she was full of love and gave so much love to everyone she met.

Patricia had a great, big life. Most people would need three lives to live as big as she did. Patricia did it all. She excelled as a young student being asked to substitute teach while in middle school when her own teachers needed coverage, graduated from college, married a compassionate man, raised three daughters, parented and befriended many kids (related and unrelated), started businesses, lost businesses, succeeded in businesses, watched daughters graduate from college, watched grandkids being born, helped to raise grandkids, traveled the world, buried her parents, buried two of her siblings, buried her husband, and truly enjoyed all that life offers.

Patricia was the youngest of four children born to Raymond and Madelyn Bates TeMaat on March 13, 1940, in Denver, Colorado. She is preceded in death by her husband and life partner Lyall D. Ryden, her sister Shirley Hollingsworth, and her brother Michael TeMaat. Patricia is survived by her daughters Romie Ryden, Ramona Ryden, and Ronna Dockstater; her sister Mary Lou Alexander Bruch; her son-in-laws Travis Bowyer and David Dockstater; her grandchildren Jocelyn and Zachary Bowyer, Trevi and Axel Siebert, and Mazie and Sawyer Dockstater; her great-grandchildren Makaio and Ezra Bowyer; and many loved nieces and nephews.

Patricia had a happy childhood growing up in the Washington Park neighborhood of Denver. She attended St. Vincent de Paul until the 8th grade and then graduated high school from St. Francis de Sales in 1958. She made lifelong friends and too many boyfriends to mention. Her mother wouldn't allow her to get in any car with a boy, so her dates would drive to her house and they would get on the bus to go to the movies. Patricia's primary years were carefree. She went to a state competition and won 1st place in a dramatic piece and 1st place in a humor piece. Her choir sang at Union Station, banks, TV, the state capital, and the Civic Center. These are some of many wonderful times in her life she recalled.

Patricia always wanted to be a teacher, so after high school she attended Colorado State College (now UNC) in Greeley from 1958 to 1962. She received her degree in Speech Therapy and Elementary Education. She taught 1st grade in Gill, Colorado, and 4th grade in Kuner, Colorado. The students were so happy to see her fresh, kind face. Their previous teacher was old and believed in spanking and solitary confinement in the coat closet. This would be one of a hundred acts of kindness that Patricia would exhibit throughout her life. During her college years, she saw a man across the quad and liked the way he looked. Lyall was 9 years older and their first date was at his apartment above the gym that he owned. He had a stingray corvette, served martinis and steak, and was a dapper dresser. So that Thanksgiving, Lyall asked Patricia's dad if he could marry her. She said, "That was the only time my dad didn't eat his meal." They were married on December 30, 1961, in Littleton, Colorado, and hit the ground running.

Teaching didn't pay the bills, so she and Lyall dived in with their whole hearts and souls into the health club business. They owned and operated the Slim & Swim Club then the Greeley Athletic Club from 1960 to 1986. Patricia did it all. She sold memberships which was her greatest joy since she loved being a salesperson. She taught a few thousand kids to swim. She taught exercise classes, racquetball, and handball. She was a personal trainer and measured hundreds of hips small and large. Every now and again she had to serve a coke if someone passed out from too much exercise. She gave massages, made protein drinks, and tried to keep Lyall calm, which was a full-time job in itself. Patricia even ran out of the locker room naked and rescued someone from drowning in the pool. Life in the health club business was fun, stressful, and profitable until it wasn't. Before they had ended their careers in the health club business, Patricia and Lyall owned a dozen clubs between Casper, Wyoming, and Roswell, New Mexico.

Life with their daughters was busy and beautiful. All the girls thrived, swam, and skied. There were many vacations and long weekends in Vail where they had a second home. Patricia had a show-stopping singing voice and was an amazing piano player. She loved to sew matching outfits for her three daughters when they were young. She found peaceful moments pruning her lawn in Greeley and always had beautiful flowers in their home. Once all the girls were out of high school and starting their lives, Patricia and Lyall moved to Vail in 1986. Leaving Greeley in 1986 was one of the hardest things she had to do - she thought it would kill her but it didn't. They moved to Vail and started life again. They owned and operated a frozen yogurt and chili restaurant, an insurance co op business, and tanning salon while in Vail. Their daughters always found them and anywhere they lived they made it home. Denver became home again in 1992. Lyall had the idea to start a transportation company. It was called Your Gambling Connection then turned into A Charter Company. They had 20 years of success. When that business ended Patricia was so glad she didn't have to drive anymore.

The last years in Denver were again happy times for her. They partook in all the activities that a big city has to offer and continued to travel the world. They always carved out time for their family and friends. She would say in the last few years of her life how much fun it all was. She was so glad that she got to see the world - it was all so beautiful. She really wanted to see how the world would turn out and held out hope because she believed that most people are good humans.

Patricia's funeral service is scheduled for Sunday, May 14, 2023 (Mother's Day), at 10 a.m., at Newcomer Chapel, 901 S. Sheridan Blvd., Lakewood, Colorado, followed by a celebration of her life at The Oxford Hotel, 1600 – 17th Street, Denver.

Patricia regularly donated her blood and was a tissue donor at her death. She would encourage this act of kindness.