Ryan Orton Obituary (1968 - 2021)

Ryan H. Orton passed away in the early hours of May 5, 2021, surrounded by family after a nearly three-year battle fighting lung cancer. Ryan was born in Cedar City, Utah on June 7th, 1968, he was the second child of Albert and Helen Orton. He grew up in Parowan, Utah, and chose to raise his family in his hometown. Nurturing his trademark mustache since the 6th grade, Ryan went on to graduate from Parowan High School, and later attended Southern Utah State College (now SUU). He married his sweetheart, Tammy Reed, on April 2, 1994, and later solemnized their marriage in the Cedar City Utah Temple on June 21, 2019. Ryan was a hard worker, and had several jobs before finding his calling. His first job was at the family nightcrawler business, working with his siblings catching nightcrawlers that would later be sold to local fishermen. He then graduated to working as a sweeper, gas station clerk, reserve police officer, automobile mechanic, and then spent over 27 years at UDOT. Starting out as a summer hire, he diligently worked his way up to Area Supervisor. Ryan also protected his community and surrounding area as a Volunteer Firefighter, retiring from the Parowan Fire Department after 25 years as an Assistant Fire Chief. He was thankful for his many friends and colleagues through the years. Ryan was a loving husband and devoted father, a cherished son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He grew up hunting and fishing with his family and cousins around the Parowan and Richfield areas. When he had a family of his own, he shared his love of hunting with them taking them on many pronghorn, deer, elk, and turkey hunts. He was also able to go on several special hunting trips that were outside the local area. He brought back a Russian boar from a hunt with is dad and cousin Clark in southern California, a javelina from a hunt with his dad, Uncle Wells, and cousin Kevin in Texas, and a pronghorn from a hunt with his son Bridger, dad, and all of his Orton Uncles, and cousins Kevin and Kyle in Wyoming. Ryan loved going to his kids sporting events and activities, he was so proud of them. He also loved reading Tony Hillerman books, searching for Montezuma’s lost gold, trapping and welding with Bridger, and making excellent Dutch oven potatoes and baked beans. Ryan was preceded in death by his grandparents, Aunt Karla Louise Hulet, and his mother-in-law Linda (Wheelwright) Reed. Ryan is survived by his wife, Tamara Lee (Reed) Orton, and his three children: Hunter Lee Orton, Emmy Claire Orton, and Bridger Ryan Orton. He is also survived by his parents, Albert M and Helen (Hulet) Orton, his brothers, Curtis Albert (Gayle) Orton and Barry Clark (Jaden) Orton, his sister Crystal Lynne Orton, father-in-law Gary Reed, and sister-in-law Ronda (Jerry) Johnson, as well as his 9 nieces and nephews, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Ryan’s family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Shannon Sorensen and her staff, and to all of the doctors, nurses and staff at the IHC Cancer Center in Cedar City, and at Zion’s Way Hospice for providing excellent care to Ryan during his fight against cancer. He was thankful, and so are we, for your professionalism that was given with kindness and compassion to him and our family. Many of you reading this obituary know that Ryan was a warrior, having fought a valiant battle against lung cancer for nearly three years. Face masks have been an essential preventative measure in his treatment, even before COVID-19 hit last year, and even more-so after COVID’s arrival. If you are able to attend Ryan’s viewing and/or funeral service, the family respectfully requests that everyone wear a face mask to continue providing that measure of safety for everyone in attendance. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at 11:00 am at the LDS Church located at 90 South Main Street, in Parowan, Utah. A viewing will be held on Friday, May 7, 2021, from 6:00-8:00 pm, and prior to the services on Saturday, from 9:00-10:30 am at the same church location. Interment will be in the Parowan City Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. Online condolences can be sent at www.sumortuary.com. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Ryan H Orton, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.