Ryan Douglas Engels, 1985-2024

Ryan Douglas Engels, 38, of Vicksburg, MS, went Home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 15, 2024. Visitation is 12-2pm on Wednesday February 21, 2024 at Fisher – Riles Funeral Home in Vicksburg. Funeral services will be at 2pm at Fisher – Riles Funeral Home with burial following at City of Vicksburg Cedar Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be John Pearce, Anthony Pearce, Raymond Engels, Alexander Engels, Phillip Preis, Ernie Trasp, Chris Zeringue, and William Trotter.

Ryan was born in Vicksburg, MS on July 22, 1985 to Laura Ann Pearce-Tuttle and Andrew Douglas Engels. He grew up in Lauderdale, MS and attended Northeast Lauderdale Schools. Ryan graduated from Hinds Community College with an Associate’s Degree. Ryan worked at Belmont Gardens Recovery Center in Vicksburg. He was very passionate about helping others turn their lives around and he would go out of his way to help someone in need. He devoted himself to making sure that the mission of Belmont Gardens was achieved, and was instrumental in its establishment and continued success. Many people found the strength to change their lives for the better thanks to Ryan’s tireless efforts to show others a better way. In 2022, Ryan met his soulmate, Kelli, and he was very much looking forward to spending eternity with the love of his life. The two were instantly connected and knew that they would spend the rest of their lives together. They traveled, ministered, and experienced the beauty of life together. They were engaged and were planning a wedding for May 18, 2024. Ryan was a member of First Baptist Church of Vicksburg. He loved the Lord and the way he lived his life was a true testament to that. He spent much of his time working with R-12 and Renewal House Ministries, helping men on their path to recovery and sharing what God has done in his life so that they could see that the same things were possible for them as well. Ryan loved music. He always enjoyed football and was a die-hard Saints fan. He loved to cook and grill. He also loved roadtrips and going to the beach, especially with Kelli. Spending time with family and friends was very important to him. Ryan was preceded in death by his grandmother, Margaret Pearce. He is survived by his fiancée, Kelli Rayner of Vicksburg; his mother, Laura Pearce-Tuttle of Vicksburg; his father, Andrew Engels (Stacey) of Pensacola, FL; four brothers: John Pearce (Tiffany) of Vicksburg, Anthony Pearce of Olive Branch, Raymond Engels of Auburn, AL, and Alexander Engels of Auburn, AL; two step-brothers: David Tuttle and Chris Tuttle; one niece, Amanda-Jane Pearce; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and an endless amount of friends. Ryan was dearly loved and he touched so many lives in his short 38 years on this earth. He will be missed deeply by all who knew him.

The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3