Ryan Lee Graves

Ryan Lee Graves, age 50, of Kansas City, Missouri, born on September 7, 1974, passed away in the ST. Luke's Hospice House at 11:57pm on May 17, 2025. He fought a long and valiant fight but in the end he lost his grueling battle with liver disease and pancreatic cancer  Ryan was known to have lived a very adventuresome and colorful life. He loved the outdoors, camping and traveling the countryside, especially to Lake Tahoe, California. Ryan loved music and taught himself to play the guitar and piano skillfully. He spent time writing and performing stand-up comedy by night and was a brilliant web designer and computer programmer by day.

 Ryan’s latest adventures/accomplishments included becoming an ordained minister through Christian Global Outreach Ministries, becoming a Board Certified Master Mental Health Coach through the Board of Mental Health Coaching (BMHC) and multiple other life coaching certificates. Ryan’s main passion in this area was that of Addiction and Recovery Counseling. He was driven to help others before they reached the place he came to through his own addiction. Ryan created numerous podcasts through his ministry with Soul Trek Ministries in efforts to reach the lost and lead them to a life with Christ and eternity in Heaven. 

In his final years, Ryan came to know and develop a deep relationship with God through Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior. Reading his bible and sharing the Word of God became one of his deepest desires while on this earth. Ryan worked in the prison ministry and taught adult life groups during his year at Vineyard Church. Next to spending time with God, Ryan cherished spending time with his daughter, Zoe and his son, Ethan. These two were the loves of his life and constantly in his thoughts and prayers.

Ryan became a natural at sharing God’s love and the love for each other with those in need. Despite his own struggles to make ends meet, he never stopped trying to help those around him who were also in need. One of his most prized accomplishments was riding his bike to raise money for St. Jude’s Cancer Research, even when he could hardly walk himself.

Ryan was preceded in death by his father, Gary M. Graves, his grandparents, Wayne Henley and Vernie Humbird, and Lee and Dorothy Graves. He is survived by his children, Zoe and Ethan Graves, His mother, Ginger Duhon, sisters, Kelly Young (Alan), Kristy Swearingen (Chas), Mendi Kellner, Stacee Graves, Jennifer Agee (Darell), Holly Spicer, Ashlee Kellner, Emily Willis (Derrik), Laura Raines (Stephen), and his brother Wesley Graves (Robin). And by multiple nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and beloved friends.

Our Greatest Promise to you, Ryan Lee Graves, is that you will NEVER be FORGOTTEN! Your legacy and your ministry Will Live on through your precious children and through the lives you have and will continue to touch through the sharing of your story. We Love and Miss You...Now and Forever!!!

Private Disposition