Daniel Paul Ryan Jr. died Dec. 28, 2007, in Many, La., from complications associated with Alzheimer 's disease. He was the father of Kate Ryan (John) Williams and grandfather to Hawkins, Hayden and Reid Williams of Port Aransas, who survive him. He was 72.

DAN RYAN Ryan was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Jan. 12, 1935, to the late Daniel Ryan Sr. and Ann Ward Ryan.

He graduated valedictorian from Blanket High School in Blanket in 1952. Ryan received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M College in 1956, and a Juris Doctorum from the University of Texas Law School in 1959.

Ryan served as an officer in the United States Army Reserves, attaining the rank of captain before being honorably discharged in 1968.

He married Janine Sampson of Dallas, who survives him, in 1959.

Ryan practiced law for more than 30 years. He was an assistant district attorney for Harris County and ultimately established his own law firm in Houston in 1969. He continued in private practice until his retirement in 1997.

Ryan was admitted to practice in all Texas State Courts, Federal Courts and the Supreme Court of the United States. He was a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation; Diplomat of the American Board of Trial Advocates; the International Society of Barristers, a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston and American Bar Associations and the Texas Aggie Bar Association.

Ryan raised Angus cattle and lived with his family on a ranch in Dubina for more than 25 years.

He remarried in 1999, to Carol Kirby, and they resided in Houston for a number of years after his retirement before relocating to Many, La. in 2004.

Survivors include his wife Carol Ryan of Many; his two sons, Daniel (Monica) Ryan III of Houston and Kyle (Stephanie) Ryan of Austin; his two daughters, Dana McKenna and Sharon McKenna, both of Dallas and his three other grandchildren.

Other survivors include two brothers, Ward Ryan of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Pat (Jeffre) Ryan of Brownwood, and a sister, Ellen (Ed) Wasiuta of Lubbock.

A memorial and celebration with family and friends will be held 11 a.m. Saturday,

Jan. 12, at Unity Church, 2929 Unity Dr. in Houston.

In lieu of usual remembrances, the family requests that contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Fl. 17, Chicago, Ill 60601-7633 or at www.alz.org.