Frederick "Ryan" Nixon

Frederick "Ryan" Nixon, 42, Petroleum Landman, died Thursday, August 25, 2022. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Thursday, September 1, 2022, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Preceded in death by his grandparents, Eugene and Charlotte Nixon of Alderson, OK, Shirley Boots of Pratt, KS; and his dog, Bert. He is survived by his parents, Dr. Jerry and Diana Nixon of Wichita; brother, Grant (Dr. Courtney) Nixon; nephew, Riley Nixon of Carmel, CA; grandfather, Edwin Boots of Pratt, KS; uncles, Brad (Alicia) Boots of Kansas City, MO, Brian (Angela) Boots of Dallas, TX; aunt, Jeanie Holt, and Jennifer Holt of Claremore, OK; and numerous other beloved relatives. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with: Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS 67219. "I am a cowboy poet, It is too a job, It's cooler than being a bus driver, And safer than the mob." - Jeffrey Rowland Ryan moved to Kansas in 1984. He lived in Pratt, Wichita, Lawrence, and Wichita again. Lawrence had the greatest impact on him. He loved all things KU, even the football team. But most importantly he loved the good times and his best friends, who were always there for him. Also from Lawrence came Bert!, an incredibly noisy and energetic Spaniel of some sort who became Ryan’s life-long companion. Ryan had a big and generous heart. He cared deeply for his friends and family, especially his little brother, whom he tormented daily. And so many loved him as well. He had a sense of protectiveness and helped others, especially his parents, in any way that he could. Ryan was an avid reader from pre-school onward, and any genre or subject was good so long as it was not selling easy answers. He loved music just as much, so long as it did not appeal to a popular audience. And he loved movies. And “Lonesome Dove.” And “Deadwood.…” Ryan worked as a petroleum landman. He enjoyed the work, but mostly he loved exploring western Kansas and other less-traveled locales. He was a collector of stories and the farmers and ranchers he met were a rich mine. What ties his life together is the stories. Over 40 years of stories. Poetically enough, Ryan and Bert! left us together, only hours apart. Their stories are over, but will never end. “And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world.” — John Steinbeck, East of Eden