September 1, 1978 – January 25, 2025

Ryan Wesley Plant, age 46, longtime resident of Summit County, CO, passed away tragically during a snowboarding trip with friends in Steamboat Springs, CO, January 25, 2025. A beloved son, friend, adventurer, and all-around extraordinary human being, Ryan was preceded in death by his grandparents, Hazel and Robert Willing of Sharptown, Maryland, and Dorothy J. Montague and Thomas E. Plant of Gulfport, Mississippi. Ryan is survived by his parents, Roberta Willing Plant, Lilburn, Georgia, and Robert I. (Jeannie Beattie) Plant of Gulfport, Mississippi.

Ryan was born in Orange Park, Florida, on September 1, 1978. He grew up in Lilburn, Georgia, and attended Parkview High School. In 1995, he moved to Aurora, Colorado, where he graduated from Smoky Hill High School in 1997. Ryan completed his education at Metropolitan State University Denver with a B.S. in Business and at University of Colorado Denver with an M.S. in Finance. 

Ryan’s love of the outdoors began at about age 10 skiing in North Carolina. Some years later while visiting his father in Colorado, they drove to Aspen in the summer. While standing in downtown Aspen, he looked up at the grassy ski runs snaking out of the mountains right into the town, and said, “Dad, I never want to ski in North Carolina again.” And he didn’t.
  
Never one to miss an opportunity, Ryan had a true passion for the outdoors and lived his life following adventures. Whether he was chasing storms to ride deep powder from Silverton to Alyeska, catching waves at Cardiff, or navigating river rapids all over Colorado and the Southwest, Ryan found his happiness in nature’s playgrounds.  He was a proud member of the Summit County Surf Club, a regular at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, and a foundational pillar for finance and operations for Modern Interior Design, Allen Guerra Architecture, and P4 Services.

Ryan’s personality was magnetic—he was the life of every party and the goofy face in every photo. He had the gift of connection, a sort of universal appeal that allowed him to effortlessly bridge personal and professional circles and leave an impact on everyone he met. Reliable, kind, and genuine, he truly had a heart of gold.

A lover of music, Ryan’s soul resonated with the sounds of Jimi Hendrix and the golden era of classic rock. He played guitar, had an extensive vinyl collection, and went to countless concerts, from Van Morrison to Primus to Wu Tang.  Ryan’s adventurous spirit and kind heart touched many lives, whether it was on a snow-covered peak, at a surf break, or gathered around a campfire after a day on the river. His boundless energy, love of life, and ever-present smile will be deeply missed by all who knew him. 

In addition to his family, he is survived by countless friends and a community that will forever cherish his memory. Ryan Plant lived a life full of adventure, music, and love, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A funeral service will be held at the Asbury Methodist Church in Sharptown, Maryland, on Wednesday, February 12th. Visitation begins at 12:00 pm with the funeral service beginning at 1 pm. A private interment will be held there at a later date. During the Spring, a celebration of Ryan’s life will be held in Colorado.

Arrangements are in the care of Zeller Funeral Home, East New Market, Maryland. If you wish, in lieu of flowers, please make donations to your local animal shelter in Ryan’s name.