Ryan Wesley Chastain

Ryan Wesley Chastain peacefully went to be with the Lord on Tuesday October 15, 2024. He is survived by his parents, Bill and Meredith Chastain, his brother Alan Chastain, sister-in-law Karen Chastain and their children Tanner, Kaylin and Jordan; his sister Adrian Chastain Weimer, brother-in-law Ryan Weimer, and their children Annabel and Briella. A much-loved son, brother, uncle, and friend, he will be missed tremendously. Ryan was fiercely loyal and could muster a wisecrack in the hardest of circumstances. He was passionate about Spanish language and culture, surfing, fishing, and his little companion dog Sophia. He always had an eye on the next adventure, whether riding the waves in Bali and Portugal, hiking Machu Picchu, or completing the El Camino pilgrimage in Spain. His deep Christian faith kept him going through difficult years after a stroke left him partially paralyzed at the age of 44. Overcoming significant challenges through the help of dedicated doctors and therapists, he spent the last year volunteering. He loved serving at the Dauphin Island Welcome Center and Sea Lab, and teaching ESL to Ukrainian refugees. He had recently taken up playing djembe drum at the local Hootenanny. The beautiful waters and warm community on Dauphin Island, especially among neighbors and the congregation of Dauphin Island Methodist Church, made the island his favorite place to be. Ryan was born on December 9, 1974, in Largo, Florida and grew up in Tampa. In addition to his parents, he was always grateful to his Sunday School teachers at Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Boy Scout leaders in Troop 22, and the priests at Jesuit High School for their investment in his faith and character. Lifelong friends from Jesuit and Plant High School enriched his life immeasurably. He graduated from Furman University in 1997 with a double major in Business and Spanish and a storied career in the Sigma Chi Fraternity. After working in insurance and mortgage industries in Atlanta, Ryan decided in 2011 to enlist in the Army. He served honorably in Alpha Troop, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. During a tour in Afghanistan, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was awarded a badge for Combat Action. The GI Bill allowed Ryan to switch careers to teaching. He earned two master's degrees in education, one in Spain and one in the United States. The US State Department awarded him a fellowship to teach ESL in Armenia, his first teaching assignment. He went on to teach ESL in Colombia, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan. His classroom was strict, lively, and humor-filled, and he kept in touch with students from all over the world. Ryan was always up for a conversation about the meaning of life, teaching technology, or the latest Star Wars. He was faithful in prayer and in friendship. We look forward to seeing him running through the streets of heaven. There will be two memorial services, the first at Dauphin Island United Methodist Church on October 20 at 3pm, and the second at St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Brandon, Florida on November 23 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to a charity for children in Bogotá, Colombia, that was close to Ryan’s heart, Fundación Los Valientes De David, by going to https://pushpay.com/g/abfboone and selecting "The Brave of David."

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Ryan Wesley Chastain

December 9, 1974 - October 15, 2024