After a courageous battle with breast cancer, Jan Westbrook Ryker, formerly of Sanford and a long-time Alamosa resident, passed away peacefully Saturday, August 13, 2022, at her home in Troy, TX, with her loving family at her side.  She was born June 26, 1950, to Thomas Don Westbrook and Jewell (Judy) Cornum.

Jan grew up in Sanford and graduated from Sanford High School in 1968.  She attended Adams State College and earned her bachelor’s degree in education.

Jan was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a young adult, she served a mission for the church in the Spain Madrid mission, which prompted a life-long devotion to missionary service and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. She worked for several years for the Church Education System in Salt Lake City, a job she loved and found very fulfilling. Jan held many callings in the church through the years, and she truly loved the people she served, both in and outside of the church.  She was an influence for good in many lives.

On November 22, 1985, Jan married the love of her life, John Samuel “Sam” Ryker, in the Manti, Utah, LDS temple.  She then moved back to the San Luis Valley with Sam, raising their family in Alamosa. Jan worked for many years in the Alamosa school system, where she made some dear friends and enjoyed being around the school children. 

With their children now adults, Jan and Sam decided it was time to retire. They packed up and moved to South Jordan, Utah, where Jan successfully battled her first diagnosis of breast cancer. She and Sam served two full-time church missions, one in Portland, OR, and the other, there in South Jordan. 

A desire to be nearer to children and grandchildren led to a move to Texas, just in time for the Snowmageddon blizzard in February 2021.  Jan loved being near enough to snuggle with, play with, and read to her grandkids there.  She and Sam also traveled across the country to be with their other children and grandchildren and loved every minute they spent together.  She whole-heartedly loved her children and grandchildren; her family was truly the light of her life.

Jan is survived by her husband, Sam Ryker, of Troy, TX; son, J.T. Ryker (Karem Rodriguez) of Florida; daughter, Katie Linehan (Frank) of West Linn, OR; daughter Jessica Hornberger (Bryce) of Moody, TX; and daughter Melissa Ryker-Larson (Michael) of Temple, TX; her grandchildren Elena, Nina & Luna Ryker (J.T. & Karem); Roselynn Hornberger (Jessica & Bryce); and Lorenzo & Landon Larson (Melissa & Michael); her mother Judy Parrish of Sanford; brothers Mart (Leah) Westbrook of Banning, CA, and Billy Parrish of Sanford, CO; sisters Kassie (Dennis) Mortensen of La Jara, CO; Cyd Westbrook (Tom Gray) of Durango, CO; Jodi Parrish of Pueblo West, CO; Kami (Mike) Larson of Bayfield, CO; and Kelli (John) Costa of Peyton, CO.  She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, many cousins, and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Don Westbrook, and her stepfather, Billy Parrish.  Jan had a quick wit and was a joy to be around.  She was a genuinely good and lovely person and will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 3, at 11 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sanford. Inurnment will follow in the Sanford Cemetery.

You are invited to Zoom this service
When: Sept 3, 2022 11:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Jan Westbrook Ryker Funeral Service

Please click the link below to join the webinar, or copy and paste the link into a web browser:
https://zoom.us/j/96632086814

Webinar ID: 96632086814