Mary Kathryn Ryan

Mary Kathryn “Duts” Ryan passed away May 29, 2026, at her home in Boerne Texas.

Mary Kathryn was born March 5, 1941 in San Antonio Texas and was raised on her parents’ ranch in Pipe Creek. She was the second of Agnes and Erby Frerich’s 4 children, with older sister Barbara, younger brother Herman, and baby sister Debbie.

From a young age Mary Kathryn excelled academically and socially. At Bandera High School she was an honor roll student, Majorette and Drum Major, played the saxophone, and was voted FHA President, Class Favorite, and Most Beautiful by her classmates. She was also one of ten finalists in the Miss Teena Texas contest and placed 3rd in a statewide sewing competition, the latter of which would become one of two artistic passions throughout her life, along with painting.

Mary Kathryn married her high school sweetheart Eddie Ryan on February 11, 1961, and left her studies at Incarnate Word College to start a family, giving birth to her son Trey on June 13, 1962, and then to her daughter Kathryn on December 16, 1966. She was a wonderful mother and created a happy and nurturing home for her family. She was always loving and attentive and made sure that every special moment in her children’s lives were recognized and celebrated, creating many special moments that they will always remember. She also pursued her creative talents during this time, making her children’s clothes from patterns and material purchased at Solo Serve, and painting many beautiful pictures in both oil and watercolors. When the family moved back to Texas in 1972 after a brief time in Pennsylvania, she took jobs at the Bandera Chamber of Commerce and worked at Eddie’s parents’ grocery store in Bandera.

When Trey went off to college in 1980 she went too, concluding her earlier Incarnate Word curriculum at UTSA, earning a BA in English and a teaching credential. She then began a 15-year teaching career at Southwest ISD in San Antonio, first as a high school English teacher and then moving into a personnel role where she gave back to the next generation of teachers, mentoring many young students and helping them find positions in her district.

She retired in 2000, the same year as her husband, and they began traveling and enjoying more time with friends and family. In 2006 she became a proud grandmother to Ellie, and a year later to her father’s namesake Erby. As with her own children she was attentive, thoughtful, and caring, but contrary to her own children she was very adept at spoiling them. She doted on Ellie and Erby prolifically, flying to California to visit and babysit as often as she could convince Eddie to leave the ranch. When she couldn’t be with the grandkids, she was thinking of them, picking out special gifts and always remembering the hallmark holidays and just about any occasion with a card and a surprise.

Probably more than anything Mary Kathryn will be remembered for her thoughtfulness and selflessness. Anyone who knew her knows, but I don’t believe there are words to adequately convey what a sweet and generous person she was. In social situations she asked sincere and thoughtful questions that told you she was listening, understood, and cared about you. She always did everything she could to make sure everyone’s feelings were considered without any regard to herself.

Mary Kathryn is preceded in death by her husband Eddie, her brother Herman Frerich, and her parents Agnes and Erby Frerich, and is survived by her sister Debbie and her husband Alvin, her sister Barbara and her husband Bill, her son Trey and his wife Brigitte, daughter Kathryn and her husband Patrick, and grandchildren Ellie and Erby Ryan.

Visitation and Rosary will be held Thursday June 11 at Bandera Funeral Chapel, with Visitation at 5:30pm followed by the Rosary at 6:30pm.

Funeral services will be held Friday June 12 at 3:00pm at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Bandera Funeral Chapel.