Ryan Austin Terrasa

Our beautiful son, Ryan Austin Terrasa, was a caring son, brother, cousin, uncle, and friend with a heart full of compassion for all. He left this world unexpectedly following a long and devastating battle with alcoholism on October 29, 2021 at the early age of 32 in his home in Southlake, Texas.
Ryan was born a smiling, happy and funny son in Fort Worth, Texas on February 1, 1989 to Lisa Briedwell McBee and Mark Wayne Terrasa. Ryan’s parents rejoiced in his beauty as an infant with big, deep brown eyes, and an easy-going, laid-back personality. Ryan was adventurous both as a little boy and into his adulthood, excelling on wheels whether it was his bike, his gas and electric skateboards, a shopping cart at the grocery store with his friends, or his fast cars.
One vivid memory the family shares is of a little Ryan with his little blue blankie perched next to his little smiling face. Ryan took that blankie everywhere and would not sleep without it, even when it started to break apart and was patched back up. When Ryan was in elementary school, he was awarded Kindness Awards from his teachers as he was always looking out and sticking up for the underdogs who were bullied at school.
Ryan graduated from Olathe East High School in 2007. Ryan liked working with his hands and entered into the trade of machine operator, working at Liberty Carton, Clorox, and Caraustar. He began his trade career at the age of 19 as a Pipefitter/Welder/Millwright at TMS, Inc. Ryan held certifications OSHA, MSHA, and in using forklifts, snorkel lifts, scissor lifts, self-propelling booms and skytracks. He was also 6G Pipe weld certified, structure welding, and mine-certified. During high school, Ryan also acquired 2 years hands-on experience in the auto tech industry, learning all aspects of car mechanics on all types of vehicles, including engine overhauls, installing clutches, installing rear axles, and rebuilding motors.
First and foremost, Ryan was a jokester and prankster and loved making others laugh. Ryan was also an avid and devoted fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Ryan took pride in the tattoos that adorned his arms as displays of his loyalty to the Cowboys, the Astros, nautical stars, and his family origins as a Choctaw Indian and his paternal family from Italy. Ryan also had a great love for all kinds of music and loved attending rock concerts and festivals. Ryan treasured all of the Rocky movies and was an ardent viewer of military documentaries, with WWII documentaries being his favorite. Ryan always spoke of his wonderful times camping with his maternal grandparents all summer long over the years, one of self-proclaimed fondest memories. His other central areas of pursuits included watching UFC fighting and driving fast cars.
Ryan’s mind and heart were deep and multi-faceted, filled with knowledge of how to interact with others with compassion and humor. He was a natural in the kitchen and considered becoming a chef, admiring, and watching all of the TV chef shows with his favorite being Chef Ramsey.
Ryan is survived by his parents, Lisa McBee of Southlake, Texas, and Mark Terrasa, stepmother, Lisa Terrasa of Lake Jackson, Texas. Ryan also leaves behind his two beloved dogs, Lindsay and Niko. Ryan is also survived by his loving maternal grandmother, Jenne Briedwell of McKinney, Texas, and paternal grandmother, Marlene Terrasa of Lake Jackson, Texas. Ryan also leaves behind his adoring siblings, sister Taylor (Mike) Haun of Olathe, Kansas, brother Dylan Reichle of Kansas City, Missouri, and stepbrothers Cory John of Washington, D.C. and Cameron John of Jacksonville, Florida. Ryan also leaves his worshipping nephew Julian Terreau and niece Kamryn Haun of Olathe, Kansas. He also leaves behind many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous friends.
Ryan was predeceased by his loving stepdad, Eric McBee, maternal grandad, William Briedwell, paternal grandfather, Michael Terrasa and nephew, Josiah Eric Haun. Ryan was also predeceased by numerous friends he bonded with over the years who ultimately succumbed to battles similar to his.
In the last decade, Ryan struggled with alcoholism. We strove to help him to find that individualized, exclusive position where he could make good choices. With this disease, we knew could not control his choices in his quest for wholeness and sobriety. Ryan went to rehab three times, each time staying a little longer and leaving a little stronger. He desperately wanted his life back and fought hard and valiantly for it. He was most recently hospitalized in April 2021 wherein the doctor informed him that should he drink again, he would surely die. Even when his disease progressed and ultimately overcame him, Ryan wanted nothing more than to regain his life, friends, family, as well as his confidence, self-worth and self- esteem.
In the weeks prior to his death, Ryan was heard vocally calling out to his Lord and Savior, asking Him to release him from the malevolent clutches of alcohol. The night prior and the morning of his untimely death he had promised his mother he would go to detox once she returned from work. God ultimately willed that it was Ryan’s appointed time to be in His presence. Ryan lost the earthly battle, while also knowing how deeply his family loved him, and that we had never given up hope. Ryan fought a difficult battle and in that, there is no shame. Ryan struggles no more but is instead, flying with angels, in the midst of his one true Savior, Jesus Christ.
We want to share Ryan’s tragic story in the hope that other lives may be saved, and his death will not be in vain. Alcoholism is a disease and a mental illness, considered a remitting and relapsing affliction. Intoxication shifts the brain chemistry, originally leading to greater levels of neurotransmitters that link to the brain’s pleasure centers. If alcohol is abused severely, the chemical compounds of the brain start to deplete and both the body and brain are further damaged as the drinker’s tolerance to alcohol increases, causing him to drink more.
Please know that NO ONE plans to be an alcoholic. As a child, Ryan was a treasure and was loved deeply, with so much promise and yet he still died from his disease. Yet, alcoholism and addiction do not discriminate. The insidious enemy of addiction is cunning, baffling, and powerful, affecting the way the brain processes pleasure, taking over not just the brain but life, as well as obliterating families and friendships.
The day Ryan died, fragments of all who loved him died along with him. We will miss him every day for the rest of our lives. The pain of his death is heartbreaking and intolerable, which is why stories like Ryan's should not be ignored. The only way we will ever conquer addiction is to share our stories and raise awareness.
Our family asks that you realize that no one is immune to the epidemic of alcoholism that encumbers our culture. We fought as hard as we knew on how we could help Ryan, and our constant hope of his recovery dashed so senselessly is devastating. Ryan will be missed every day by so many who loved him. Ryan was loved by many who will continue to cherish the time and memories they share with him. It will be through these stories and memories that we will always remember Ryan as a wonderful, loving, humorous and kind man with a heart of pure gold. Let us continue to remember that Ryan we all knew and loved.
Visitation will be held at Lucas Funeral Home in Grapevine, Texas on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 6:00 pm. A Celebration of Ryan's Life will be held on Friday, November 5, 2021 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ryan’s name to FAR, the Foundation for Alcoholism Research. You may donate through PayPal or via credit card, using the link at www.alcoholismresearch.org or by sending a check to P.O. Box 31135, Chicago, Illinois 60631.
We ask that all who loved Ryan to please bring memories and stories to share. To all that have given their love and support to both Ryan and his family, we thank you sincerely. We were immensely proud of Ryan and his beautiful heart for others. Ryan, we pray that you have found the peace you desperately searched for here on earth. We hope you know how many people loved you and have been profoundly affected by your death.
“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him… I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” - Psalm 91:14-16

“God saw you were getting tired,
and a cure was not to be,
so, he put his arms around you
and whispered, “Come to me”.
With tearful eyes we grieved,
and fathomed you had passed away.
Although we loved you dearly,
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
hard working hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best.”