Ryland Morell Pool

RYLAND MORELL POOL, age 81, of 850 High Plains Road, Roxboro, NC died Monday morning, May 4, 2020 at Hillcrest Convalescent Center.

Mr. Pool was born January 9, 1939 in Halifax County, VA, son of the late Richard Nathaniel & Hattie Beatrice Davis Pool and was husband of 59 years to Beverly Ann Young Pool who survives. He was a member of Triple Springs Baptist Church where he served as Deacon and supervised the building of the latest church addition.  

As a teenager, Ryland washed cars and picked up rocks for a farmer for 50 cents a day. At age 18 he started working for Thompson-Arthur Paving Company at the scale house and then as timekeeper at the Danville office. He would come from Bassett, Virginia on Wednesday nights to see Ann, then drive halfway back and stop, set his alarm clock, and sleep in his car until time to go to work the next morning. He married Ann 27 days after she graduated. Ann says she went from mom and dad telling her what to do to Ryland telling her what to do. Now, after 59 years, she has to figure out what to do on her own.

Ryland and Ann moved to Danville after marriage. Five years later, Ann’s dad wanted them to move back home and help him on the farm. Ryland was anxious to do that as he’d be closer to his mom and dad as well.  They built a house next door to her parents where they still reside today.

Ryland and his father-in-law, Cecil, farmed and did custom tractor and combine work. From that evolved two fertilizer businesses to logging until he lost part of his leg in an accident. He still did not give up. He drove back and forth to Louisburg, NC to learn to be a jeweler and later had his own repair business, picking up, repairing, and delivering jewelry for five different stores. He was a master at repairing gold chains and sizing rings. He later retired from Clarksville Fine Jewelry and enjoyed gardening, mowing grass, and picking up pine cones with his grabber on the golf cart. He was a wonderful cook and a master at making a stew in the big pot and also made his own dressing for the Pool family every Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Ryland loved to travel and he and Ann traveled to Cancun, Las Vegas, Venezuela, England, Florida, and Myrtle Beach numerous times. He also loved to fish with his sons and grandchildren. Catfish were his favorite. He loved old cars and car shows and would travel all over the countryside for a car show. He loved attending cruise-ins with the car clubs, and he was a fixture at them, especially in Roxboro. He also loved playing Rummicube with his sisters and grandchildren. Before his accident, he loved to deer and bird hunt with his sons and brothers. He would drive Ann crazy watching every Barrett-Jackson car auction that came on television. He watched old westerns regardless of how many times he had seen them. He had a great sense of humor and you didn’t have to wonder what he was thinking because he would quickly tell you.

Surviving in addition to his wife, are two sons, Kevin D. (KD) Pool, Ryan Pool & wife Gemeley all of Roxboro, NC, four grandchildren, Kale, Kyle, Locke, and Leah Pool, two sisters, Esther Carver & husband, Tommy, Janis Shotwell all of Roxboro, NC, and three sisters-in-law, Carolyn Pool Schaeffer of Fl,  Phyllis Pool of Durham, NC and Rita Pool of Roxboro, NC.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Pool is preceded in death by his first child, Cecilia Grey Pool, sister, Marjorie Adcock, and three brothers, Richard Pool, Eugene (Butch) Pool, and Budd Pool.

Private family graveside services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 2020 in the Olive Branch Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Jack Stewart officiating.  Those wishing to pay their respects may do so Tuesday, May 5, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. at Strickland and Jones Funeral Services.

Due to the Executive Order regarding COVID-19, attendance will be limited to 50 people.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Triple Springs Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1927, Roxboro, NC 27573 or the Olive Branch Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 7588 Dirgie Mine Road, Roxboro, NC 27574.

Arrangements are by Strickland and Jones Memorial Funeral Services, 1810 Durham, Road, Roxboro, NC 27573.  Online condolences may be made at stricklandandjonesfs.com.

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