Ryan Eakin’s presence permeates the family home near Baxendale.
A large, framed pastel and charcoal portrait of a bison that he drew adorns a living room wall. Old traps, which Ryan painstakingly cleaned using vinegar, hang from the fireplace mantel. A photograph of him at 9 years old, posing with the mountain goat that he hunted with his father, is at the base of the stairway. In the corner rests a wooden walking stick Ryan carved — not to use, but to keep his hands busy.
“He found it while we were exploring the rocks near our house at Baxendale,” explains Haley Eakin, his sister. “He carved it while we watched TV. We used to go exploring every day when we lived in Rimini — we would pack a lunch and go to the Big Rock or go catch frogs by Ten Mile Creek.”
“He decorated this place,” added his father, Kirk Eakin, pointing to the collections of license plates, arrowheads, tobacco tins, and historic beer cans that Ryan collected and now accent one of the bathrooms and other rooms of the house. “That sign above the toilet — DuPont Explosives — was a wooden crate sign he found in an old cabin the family owns in Rimini. He thought hanging it there was funny. He found a lot of the other old items in boxes in the cabins, and would spend hours cleaning and polishing to add them to the house.”
Ryan’s hands and heart were stilled forever on Thursday, when the 20-year-old was shot and killed in a parking lot near Montana and Bozeman streets. Austin Lee Kroll-McLaughlin, 18, is jailed, facing charges of deliberate homicide and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, in connection with the case.
Today, Ryan’s parents, Kirk and Cathy Eakin, and his sisters Haley, 19, and Ashley, 14, are trying to cope with the unexpected loss of their son and brother. On Sunday, they mixed laughter with tears as they shared memories of the young man with the shy smile who loved to hunt and fish, ski, shoot hoops and spend time with his family and friends
“Our favorite thing to do together was to go on drives” in the Toyota Celica that he loved, Ashley recalled. “We would always listen to music, and he would sing along, mostly to rap songs.”
Ryan was an Eagle Scout who earned his badge making a raptor rehabilitation house for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Montana Wild Center. He graduated from Capital High School in 2014 and was taking business classes at Helena College University of Montana. Ryan was artistic and lively, an incredibly organized and a gentle soul with a positive outlook, according to his family.
“We met with some of his friends today, and they said that he was always there for them,” Kirk said. “He was always positive, making negative situations positive. ‘Everything will be all right’ was his saying whenever it looked bad.”
Ryan was nicknamed “The Baseball Kid” in a Helena Independent Record article in 2007, after the 12-year-old wrote an award-winning essay on slugger Reggie Jackson. When he was 9, Ryan traveled to California in 2005 with his dad to represent Montana, after winning a Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom essay contest on how to save the threatened Canada lynx. He also was a Montana junior duck stamp design winner or finalist five times.
In his fanatically organized bedroom — his mother used to tease him about his insistence on making the bed even if he was late for school — are collections of Matchbox cars, old wooden fishing lures, a sculpture made from Red Bull cans and a fort made out of toothpicks that he cut, glued together and painted.
He didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life, but his family felt that his childhood artistic abilities should have been further pursued.
“Ryan wanted to be an architect when he was young,” Cathy said. “He was a really good kid, and anyone who knows him knows that.”
Kirk laughs, recalling the time he and Ryan took a beginners fly-tying class at CrossCurrents. Kirk wanted to take remedial fly tying again, but Ryan moved on to the intermediate class.
“He’d sit with the old guys, tying flies with them, when he was only 9 or 10,” he said.
They’re not sure what led up to their son’s shooting, saying they don’t know much more than what was reported in the newspaper and on television. But they want the Helena community to know that regardless of the circumstances, Ryan was a good young man whose life was cut short too soon.
A celebration of Ryan’s life is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at Our Redeemer’s Church on North Benton.
Freelance journalist Eve Byron can be reached at evebyron@hotmail.com.
Ryan William Eakin, 20, tragically passed away July 7, 2016.
He was born in Helena on August 6, 1995, to Cathy and Kirk Eakin. He loved being the big brother of Haley, 19, and Ashley, 14.
Ryan was an Eagle Scout who earned his badge making a raptor rehabilitation house for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He graduated from Capital High School in 2014, and was attending Helena College of Technology, where he was taking business classes. He was artistic and lively, loved hunting & fishing, skiing, shooting baskets, and spending time with his friends and family. As a child, he and his sisters would play in the woods around their home in Rimini; his family later moved to a log home near Baxendale, which is filled with his artwork and antiques that he rejuvenated. He was incredibly organized and a gentle soul with a positive outlook and the world’s biggest, shy smile.
Survivors include his parents and sisters, his paternal grandparents Ken and Cathy Eakin of Darlington, PA; his maternal grandmother Sally Winand of Harrisburg, PA; his aunt Kelly Courtney of Maryland; aunt Cindy Ryan of Bayfield, CO; and his uncle John Bonitz, III of Harrisburg. Survivors also include the puppy dogs in his life, Ranger, Amber, Muneca, and Lacey. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather John Bonitz, Jr.
A celebration of Ryan’s life will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, July 16, 2016 at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, 3580 N. Benton Ave., Helena, MT 59602. A reception will follow the memorial service in the social hall of the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Ryan’s name to the Foundation for Animals in Helena, P.O. Box 389, Helena, MT 59624. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Ryan.
Ryan was an amazing person who would aid anyone in need. To honor his memory, give someone a helping hand and pay it forward.
Gail Asbury says
Dear Kirk, Cathy, and girls,
I was so saddened to hear of Ryan’s death. I can’t imagine how hard it is right now for you to deal with loosing him in such a terrible and unexpected way. I remember how nice it was to come to know you, Cathy, and share our experiences together on home schooling. I remember seeing Ryan’s duck artwork in the library and you telling me how painstakingly he worked on it trying to get every detail right. I am glad you have a lot of pieces in your home as well as so many other things he collected and being an Eagle Scout. You must have loved him so and shared a close family together. Our hearts ache for you all and we will be praying for God’s grace and comfort to see you through.
With heartfelt sympathy, Gail and Jim Asbury
I
Gail Asbury says
Dear Cathy, Did you get my message? I am not sure that it went through.
Nancy Beckman says
Dear ones, may our Lord give you His grace and peace through this tragedy. Our family sends you sympathy and affection. In your pain and loss may you never lose sight of God’s mercy and love.
Lamentations (3:17-26)
Karen Henderson says
Dear Eakin Family,
I taught Ryan for one semester at Helena College, and I enjoyed getting to know him. I’m so sorry you are suffering this terrible loss.
Tricia O'Connor says
Kirk, Cathy and girls,
I was so sad to learn about Ryan’s passing. I can only imagine the heartache you are experiencing with this tragic untimely loss. I remember Ryan when he was much younger as such a vivacious great little boy. Please keep all the great memories of Ryan in the forefront. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Linda Grady says
To the Eakin family,
I speak on behalf of the many people in Helena who heard of this incident and wish you strength to endure the countless hours of healing you will go through. It sounds like you had a wonderful son, sibling, and now a forever angel in your home. Take care and allow Jesus to hold you as often as needed.
Rebecca Adams says
Dear Eakin Family, I’m so sorry. I know Ryan loved you guys very very much, and I know he’s looking down on us right now. He was an amazing guy, and I will never forget any of our memories. And you guys will always and forever be in my hearts. You and him didn’t deserve this at all. And whatever you guys need, I will always try to help out in some ways. Stay strong, I know that’s what Ryan would want. ?
Kelly Schroeder Rhimer says
Dear Eakin Family,
I did not know Ryan, but he did not deserve to lose his life in such a cold calculated way. There is nothing a person could do to deserve to die in such a terrible way. I know Ryan and your family is in many Helenans thoughts and prayers.
Connie Smith says
Dear Eakin Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. I have wonderful memories of helping out the summer Ashley was born. Taking Ryan and and Haley for hikes in Rimini, doing art projects, weaving baskets, and learning in nature. Ryan was a very creative, smart young child; your family will always hold a special place in my heart. May God give you grace, peace and comfort at this difficult time.
Dan Gengler says
Dear Kirk, Cathy, and Family,
We are all so saddened by the tragic loss of Ryan and our hearts break for you. Ryan was a good young man and I always enjoyed working with him in scouts. I also very much appreciated all that you did as adult volunteers and very much respected and admired you and your family. On behalf of the Gengler family, please accept our deepest sympathies and our prayers of support and comfort for you.
Dean McLain says
Dear Eakin Family,
It’s been years since coaching soccer and getting to know Ryan and your family. But I remember him like it was yesterday. There was a true goodness in his heart demonstrated by how he carried himself and treated his teammates. And it wasn’t hard to see how much he loved his parents and sisters, always joining you after the game with a smile. Danny called me immediately expressing sorrow for his loss, saying Ryan was such a good kid. May the Lord give you strength and hope during this very difficult time.
Marci says
Dear Eakin Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Our family has recently experienced a loss similar to yours. I know first hand how confusing and painful this type of tragedy is. Your son is a beautiful soul who didn’t deserve this. From our family to yours, we know Ryan was a wonderful person, he was loved, cherished and will be forever missed. Sending you love, energy and positive thoughts during this painful time.
Angela says
I am sending my sincere condolences. My heart goes out to you at this time. When death strikes, a happy family may be overwhelmed with sadness. I truly hope memories of Ryan and the love of family and friends will bring you comfort. There is a great hope held out to us for the future because God promises to bring those we lost back to life by means of a resurrection to a paradise earth, where sickness and death will be no more. (Acts 24:15)(Revelation 21:4, 5) (Psalms 37:29) I hope this brief message will bring you a measure of comfort in this difficult time.
Gary and Lisa Fryere and family says
We never met Ryan, but know other members of his family and wish to add our sincere condolences to all.
Amanda Reynolds says
To Ryan’s family,
I would like to send you my condolences. I did not know Ryan for very long, but in the time that I did spend with him I knew that he funny and smart kid. We shared a class together at Helena College and he was a member of one of my assigned group projects. Ryan was quiet, but when he had something to say we listened, because we knew it would be some great input or some funny comment. My heart hurts for the loss of a really sweet young man.
Rich Rohrmann says
I would like to send my condolences. So sorry to hear about Ryan I didn’t know him. But know he’s dad. He sounded like a great kid. Again so sorry for your loss . I am thinking of you Kirk and family
Holly Zullo says
I was shocked and horrified to hear about Ryan. Although it has been many years since I’ve seen you, I will never forget the little boy who drew the beautiful pictures for the duck stamp competitions every year. My thoughts are with you.
BONNIE DILLAN says
We are very saddened at the sudden loss of Ryan. Please know you are in our thoughts as you go through this difficult time.
Mark and Bonnie Dillan
Tabitha Adams says
Dear Kirk and Cathy,
Today is going to be a hard day for you, and anyone else hurting over the loss of Ryan including myself. I can’t tell you everything will get better, but soon we’ll be able to become stronger to accept the fact he’s physically no longer with us. Ryan always said he loved his family, and I saw it in his eyes when he said it. He meant it. My love and prayers are being sent your way.