These are things we just don’t understand. Love to the Family ❤️

We miss you and continue to mourn. Rest in peace. Watch over those of us who remain behind. Ma Betts

Everyday I think of you Ryan. Miss you and love you. Your smile, laugh and humor brought me so much joy.

We cherish the memories you created with us, but they don't fill the void of your absence. Rest in peace, dear grandson. Ma Betts

Another year without you has passed. Knowing that you are at peace and free of pain does not replace the joy we knew when you were still in this world and creating fond memories with us. We were blessed to have you in our family. Prepare welcomes for those of us who approach eternity in the future. 

You remain in our hearts forever. It is a joy to remember the happy memories you created, and a sorrow that we will have no new memories to sustain us. We must make the joy of those 20 years last. Rest assured that as we view photo albums and recall important events that you are remembered. Ma Betts

Time has not eased the pain of your absence from us. We miss you and always will. Embrace those loved ones who have followed you to eternity -- Grandpa Bud, Aunt Kim, Aunt Ceely. Grandma Lil continues her love for you. Much love, MB

My heart aches for the family. I hope his death has served a greater purpose. For a parent to endure the death of a child, at any age is a cruel fate.

Thinking of you and missing you. So much has changed since you left us. Memories of you make me smile. Love you always and I keep you in my prayers.

2019. I treasure many good memories. I wish we had more time to create additional ones. Your passing has left a huge void which we attempt to fill by recalling happier times. Rest in peace, dear Grandson. Love, Ma Betts

I am so sorry Steve...I know I only worked with you for a short time many years ago, but some of my family members have suffered from depression too. I wish more could be done for the people we love. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Please know you are not alone.

I taught Ryan,and all the Boones. I come from a family that has dealt
with depression. I remember Ryan as a 6th grader who was kind to his classmates. Ryan,you will be missed.

Even knowing Ryan for almost my entire life I can't find a single negative memory as deep as I try to reach. I can't even remember a time when Ryan's name wasn't paired with an exclamation point and a smile. He made all those around him feel loved, comfortable, and most importantly happy. They say the biggest smiles hide the most pain, but that same smile brought so much happiness. I wish our smiles could have been a little brighter for him to feel the same. Rest in peace Ry, you will never be forgotten.

My heart aches for your family. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Ryan was such a kind and caring soul at St. Joe's.  He will be so missed.

Our thoughts and love are with you all during this time. Sending you our and support, Jason, Elly and Peter

We continue to be heartbroken at this loss and will hold you all in our prayers. The Wolfe Family

Ryan, Your leaving us came as a shock. Deep grief and sadness overtook me even before I could name it. While I didn't know you well, I had the idea, that like other kids I met and liked along the way, I’d be standing in a check out line someplace and I’d hear some call my name. I’d turn to look into the face of a man whose wonderful smile would’ve quickly given way a happy reunion with the boy I once knew. Nate and Kevin were friends, and through them, I became friends with you and your family. It was your smile that assured your place on my “special guys” list—a smile so big it occupied your entire face, melting even the most stoic among us. I’ve read that your journey was not without struggle. Yet, in spite of that, you were passionate about the things you loved and pursued them with all that you had. (Inspiring to those of us who’ve forgotten that life’s a heck of a lot richer when passion and going all in are attached to it.) Some years ago, as hard as I tried, I couldn’t reconcile why the God of love seemingly looked the other way while the young died way too soon. I went to my parish priest with this question. He told me he believed that God took us when in His eyes, we were perfect—a perfection outside the narrow lens of our experience beyond our understanding—a nano-second in which God saw His perfection in them—all that He meant us to be. Looking back now, I'm thinking that what I saw in that sweet face—in those blue eyes—was the glimmer of His perfection in the making. Peter

Steve/Karen,

Debbie and I are so sorry to hear about Ryan. I will always remember him as the energetic little boy running with Mitchell at Y Guides camp. I hope you both heal from this. 

Scott and Debbie

As I look at Ryan's pictures and think about our many interactions. I can only ask why would such a good-hearted young man, with so much potential take his own life? He was smart, friendly, and very easy to be around. It makes no sense. Ryan, I wish I could have said or done whatever was necessary to pull you out of the hole you were in. I know you have found peace now, but the rest of us are left to feel the emptiness in your absence.

Its been a few years since Ryan and Sean ran around the soccer field together and even more years since we all played life and death in the
forest, climbed walls, and shot arrows together at Y-Guides campouts. Ryan was full of enthusiasm, creativity, and thirst for adventure. There were struggles even way back then, but Ryan fought through it and achieved great things in his brief life. Ryan was a champion. We will miss him but always cherish the gifts he gave us.

Ryan, it's been just over a week since you've left us and I know I'm not alone when I say that you are loved and missed deeply. Despite living thousands of miles away, you in Washington on the west coast and me on the east coast, I always cherished my time with you, your siblings and parents, even if those encounters happened far less frequently than I would have liked. I remember fondly our times at Ma Betts and Grandpa Bud's floating the Boise River and white water rafting with all the cousins, aunts and uncles.

In later years, I remember you sharing more about yourself with me during one of our recent trips to Boise, where I was struck by the incredible curiosity you had for history, but even more impressively by the depth of concern and compassion with which you held for others. 

I am humbled and moved by you allowing me into your life by sharing with me a glimpse of the challenges and struggles you were enduring in your final months with us and deeply saddened by your passing. 

Your life and story remain as a powerful testimony to me personally in the helping profession. You remain in my thoughts and prayers that you are at peace and can recognize the depth to which you are loved.

Ryan its hard to believe that the world has lost someone as good and generous as you. You were always the soldier when we were younger. But you don't have to fight anymore. I hope that one day I will have the privilege of seeing you again. We love you.

Words will never be enough to express the sorrow we all feel for your loss. I have thought of you and Ryan so much the last few days and the one thought that keeps resounding over and over is "Ryan is at peace". Your peace will be slow but hopefully, Ryan will help guide you there. Please know that the warm white light of love is surrounding you and keeping you safe...Ryan is making sure of that. His spirit will be with you always.  Sending Love, Steven. 
 Aunt Ceely

I love you Ryan. I am so thankful for the time I spent with you. Who can I call now? Thanks for the calls. Love you forever!!!

We are so sorry for your loss. Ryan sounds like he was an amazing young man who touched the lives of so many. Our thoughts are with all of you during this difficult time.

How we miss you! And we will continue to miss you -- on the anniversary of your birth, the anniversary of your death, and any thought of what might have been. Despite our great loss, we will cherish what was. And, there is so much to cherish.

I envied Bob and Lil because they were able to share so much of your life. But Grandpa Bud and I remember good times with you in Seattle, and in Boise -- trips to all the great spots in the Seattle area, playing Kings in the Corner and the one Lil consistently won (something to do with the queen of spades?) 

Boise had some specialties -- floating the Boise River in the summer, ski trips with your Dad one winter, more games, white water rafting, and a wonderful day at a theme park where we played miniature golf and some arcade games. 

You may or may not have had lasting memories of the cruise to Alaska. You and Kevin made splendid pirates (complete with eye patches, swords, and bandannas) and thoroughly enjoyed the swashbuckling aspects of piracy. One day you saw Grandpa Bud and me with Kelsey -- and it didn't sit well. You were far more accustomed (and comfortable) seeing her with Bob and Lil. You didn't hesitate to tell us that your Mom and Dad were wondering where she was and we needed to take her back right away. You remained a protective brother to your sister.

You were smart, funny, brave, and most of all -- kind. When you said grace before meals you always remembered the people and causes overlooked by many.

I am grateful for your visit this past spring. I saw you smile a lot and I could see you were having a great time with Sue, Alex and Phil. That is a precious memory for Grandpa Bud and me. Grandpa Bud appreciated that you were interested in the stories of his life -- and you were a very good listener.

In an age of so many medical miracles, I am impatient for a cure for depression. It will come. But it hasn't come soon enough. I comfort myself by knowing that you have been welcomed into eternity by a loving God, who has embraced you and now provides a peace that you did not find on earth.

I pray that the loving God who has welcomed you will extend those same loving arms earthward and heal the broken people who mourn the loss of you. Much love from Ma Betts and Grandpa Bud

A beautiful and loving tribute for a fine young man whom I will always remember for his kindness and thoughtfulness of others. Rest in peace Ryan.

Ryan will be missed and I am thankful that he left me with indelible memories. I will always remember his wonderful smile and inquisitive mind. He was always a bright shining light that would illuminate a room. Reading the stories that others have written only confirm the strong, adventuresome, courageous, kind, and insightful sole he was and will always be on our memories.

Words are inadequate to express the sadness that I feel for the Boone family and all others whose lives were touched by Ryan. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Oh my God, We are so overwhelmingly sorry for your loss!

This is a letter I wrote to Ryan upon his 8th grade graduation. I think it provides a window into the way that those of us who were fortunate enough to know him at St. Joseph appreciated his wonderful spirit and beautiful personality. 
_______________________________________________________

May 28, 2010

Dear Ryan,

Congratulations! You did it! You are graduating from 8th grade and you have accomplished wonderful things. You had an amazing year. I remember the fall, when you courageously defended the St. Joes goals, through wind, sleet hail and rain, like Superman! You carried that burden alone and no one could have done a better job. We were all in awe of your bravery and your perseverance. I asked Mr. Fisher to tell me how he would describe you and he said, “Courageous, Truly Courageous.” This trait is something that the world needs. I can’t wait to see how God uses this gift that he has given to you.  I remember the end of the soccer season, when you made the slide show for the soccer party and how you included everyone. Just like your dad, you celebrated and included everyone. And I could tell that you had worked on it for hours. This is what impressed me the most. You have a really good and kind heart. This is also something that the world needs. The way you are with others brings them peace. What an important contribution you make to the quality of everyone’s life. I remember the winter, when I was looking over the Prep acceptance list and saw your name, and how excited I felt that you might be here. Not because Prep is great, but because you are such a gift, for any school to have. You are exactly the type of person with whom I would want my son to journey through high school. I remember waiting to find out if you would come and how excited my family felt when you wore your T-shirt to our house!  I remember talking to your father, and how he knew that you belonged at a challenging school because you are so bright and so strong. Your parents have so much pride in you, and so much faith. You deserve that, you have earned it. Finally, looking back, I remember that you have always provided such a confident peacefulness presence. Your smile and the light in your eyes make everyone feel secure. This, in fact, is your greatest gift, from my perspective. This is the gift that undoubtedly has carried your family and your friends though many trials. I am sure that your family was grateful for this gift as they struggled with your brother’s illness at Christmastime. This peacefulness in you, this still water, deep and strong presence will serve you well through life. And it will serve those who travel with you, as it serves them now. 

The next four years will be full of amazing things. You will experience all kinds of new joys, and freedoms, and you will grow intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually. As I told Cole, some of this enrichment will come from things that cause you a degree of pain.  I wish I could say there is a way to avoid a scar from high school, but there is not. The fire, however, will only make the gold that is your heart become brighter, as it provides challenges that enable you to find more strength in God, your family, yourself and your gifts.  You will not face the difficult times alone. You have an amazing family and friends who really care about you. We will all be here for you. I will be here in the President’s office, if you forget your lunch money, or need anything.  Our house will be your house whenever you want it, and Cole will be your loyal friend in this journey.

Have a wonderful summer. You deserve it

Sincerely,

Sheree Fisher

I did not know Ryan, but your tribute brought him to life in a beautiful way. Ryan left a remarkable footprint and he will be missed by all he touched. You have experienced every parents worst nightmare, I pray for your peaceful acceptance of one of Gods' mysteries that confound us.

Linda and I send our love. My mother inscribed a perfect thought from Timothy on my brothers Headstone " I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the Faith" Rysn is certainly in a better place.

Your Dad loves you and he holds you in his heart forever. He misses you every minute, every day. He remembers your kindness, your company, your searching mind, your love of family, and he knows those memories will always live.