Student Ryan David Reaves, 23, is buried in New Orleans

RYAN DAVID REAVES, a student who had battled disease for most of his young life, died in his adopted home of Houston on December 24, 2014 at Houston Methodist Hospital. He was  23 and just two days shy of his 24th birthday.

Reaves was born  in Columbia, MD. in 1990 and lived in New Orleans until 2009, when he moved to Houston. He was an 18-year survivor of Childhood T-Cell Leukemia and a nine-year survivor of a heart-lung transplant, which he received at Texas Children’s Hospital in 2005.

Reaves was a sweet, loving, kind, warm, generous, caring and sensitive person, who touched the lives of all he met. He faced each health challenge with courage and determination to make himself stronger. Passionate about animals, particularly dogs, he enjoyed traveling, fine dining, aviation and flying simulators.

Nothing gave him more pleasure than exploring the world on cruises, eating at his favorite restaurants with family, and photographing favorite dishes. He also had a keen interest in real estate and finance, and he shared a love for voice acting in animated shorts with many longtime and new friends.

Ryan recently completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Philosophy at University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.

He is survived by his parents, Susan and Joey Reaves; his grandparents Elaine and Bernie Van der Linden; his  sister, Sara Reaves and several aunts, uncles and cousins. His family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to his organ donor and to all organ donors for giving Ryan and so many others a second chance at life.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to LifeGift in Houston or an organ donation charity of your choice. 

Private funeral services were conducted in New Orleans on Sun., Dec. 28 by Rabbi Emeritus David Goldstein at Hebrew Rest Cemetery No. 3, 2100 Frenchmen Street at Pelopidas Street. Arrangements were under direction of Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home of Metairie.