In Loving Memory Of

Edward Mason Bryan 

  Ed Bryan was always late. For years he said, “I want to be late for my own funeral.” Sadly, we feel that this is the one time that he did something early. He lived his 84 years fully and completely. And while we will always miss him, we are grateful for the love, care, laughter, and utter joy of living that he brought to all.

     Edward Mason Bryan was born on December 31, 1941, to Elva (Mason) and Dean Bryan in Gooding, Idaho. The family moved to a dairy farm south of Colville, WA in 1948. Along with his sister Roxie and his brother Mike, Ed grew up learning to do hard work on the dairy farm but even more he embraced the Bryan family way of laughter, games, playing cards, roughhousing, dancing, and being creative.

     When he was fourteen, he met Janet Hertel at a Grange Dance. Encouraged by his dad that if he didn’t talk with her, another would, he asked her to dance. They have been together ever since. They both graduated from Colville High School in 1960. After Jan graduated from St. Luke’s School of Nursing, they married on June 15, 1963 – the day after Jan’s 21st birthday. They moved to Pullman, WA where Ed finished his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, graduating in 1965.

     Ed and Jan welcomed four daughters – Susan, Shelley, Sheila, and Stacy (they apparently loved “S” names – and, we assume, daughters). Ed’s first job was in Springfield, OR but soon he took a job with Bechtel which moved them to Montana and Missouri. Leaving Bechtel, they moved to Michigan for a short time and then returned to their home in Colville in 1972.

     Ed began Bryan Engineering and Construction where he built mostly commercial buildings and homes throughout eastern Washington including the Colville Medical Center. He ran this business until the mid-eighties. He then transitioned from this construction company to IDS and then State Farm. He worked as a State Farm agent in Deer Park, WA until 2018 when he retired.

     But Ed cannot be summed up by his work. He was so much more. Ed was also a homebuilder, pilot, craftsman, gardener, amateur aircraft designer, actor, playwright, woodworker, ice skater, snow and water skier, storyteller, traveler, a faithful layperson at his church, boat captain, friend, life-of-the-party, and a helper in so many ways. Every daughter and grandchild (and so many more) has numerous stories of Ed building and remodeling, finding solutions, giving advice, teaching, and coming at a moment’s notice to fix what was broken or needed. As one of his coffee cups said, “If Papa can’t fix it, we’re all screwed.”

     Ed was curious and fearless in trying new things. In the 70s, before many others even knew about computers, he designed a computer software program for people to learn how to remodel houses themselves (way before Microsoft!). He started taking piano lessons and tap dancing in his 50s and 60s. After retiring, he wrote plays, took up woodworking, and built airplanes. He was open-minded and was truly a Renaissance man who, it seemed, could do anything.

     Ed loved his family. He was an active participant in everyone’s lives – attending swim meets, concerts, piano recitals, basketball and soccer games, plays, driving the float for Miss Colville, and graduations – even when far away. The family treasured gathering at Loon Lake for tubing, s’mores, and so many memories. Along with a lifelong love of theater, he also loved traveling – taking his wife, children and grandchildren on memorable vacations including flying in his airplane to California and driving across the country in a big van. He was so glad to dance at his daughters’ and many of his grandchildren’s weddings and he was overjoyed to recently welcome two great-grandchildren.

     Ed died suddenly on September 11, 2026. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Mike, and his daughter Sheila. He is survived by Jan, his wife of 63 years, his daughters Susan Brown (Ed), Shelley Bryan Wee (Rick Steves), and Stacy Bigelow (Rod), his son-in-law Steve Wee (Julie Gobel), sister Roxie Miller, grandchildren Emily, Katie, Elissa, Madison, Daniel, Eleanor, and Maggie, and great-grandchildren Kasper and Forrest.

     At his core, he loved and embraced life. He woke up every day ready for something new. And if there wasn’t something new, he created it. He was a man that people were drawn to and so many were lucky to call friend. We thank God for Ed’s life and trust that he is partying in heaven – held in God’s love and grace. 

     We would love for you to dance and enjoy life as Ed did. In honor of Ed’s passions for theater and for those who are in need, you are welcome to donate to Chewelah Center for the Arts or Lutheran Community Services Northwest.

     Services will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The graveside service will be at the Colville Cemetery, Colville, at 10 AM. The Memorial Service will be at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Spokane, at 2 PM. You are invited to come to either or both. Following the service, a party (as Ed requested!) will be held at their home in Deer Park. Bright clothes are encouraged to celebrate Ed’s love of life!