Support Ryland Tuttle's Family

On July 30th, we lost a beloved son, brother, and friend. We are struggling to accept being left so suddenly, and are thankful that our precious family has come together now to support each other.

We will treasure the memories of him that live in our hearts, and can only try to accept the space that has been left in our lives.

In the short time since his passing, we have been sharing stories of the ways he touched our lives, and how we will always carry him with us. Through many tears, there have also been many laughs. Ryland's wit was sharp and unique. He could fill a room with laughs with a single line and raised eyebrow.

His interests and thoughts were both deep and complex. We'll remember sitting around the wood-burning stove, talking into the night wondering and theorizing about the wide world. He loved to cook, a long game night, and the perfectly executed Halloween costume.

And Ryland's heart. He was generous beyond himself, capable of surprising you with warmth and gratitude when you'd least expect it.

Why we're asking for help: The Tuttle family home, where Ryland grew up and lived nearly all his life, was once open to the public as a lush and thriving plant nursery. Our family often simply calls it "the farm."

We shared the blessing of growing up in the country, but decades later, we are still making use of many of the same pieces of that country home we grew up with. This week has been an all-hands-on-deck effort, with family traveling from inside and outside Michigan, and from outside the United States, to do some of the work our home has desperately needed for many, many years.

Most of all, we wish to bring some comfort to our mother Raven, who was the only other family member living on the farm with Ryland. We've accomplished a lot, but the work has only begun. We're giving what we can to literally rebuild life here, and to rebuild the feeling of life's possibilities.

We hope you will consider helping in any way you can. Absolutely everything is an immediate help and no contribution is too small. You can either send a check to Raven or donate here.  Thank you for your compassion and generosity.

"Ryland was a good chess player, and a good man. He was one of us. He was a man who loved the outdoors, and chess..." - Walter, The Big Lebowski

We love you Ry.