Kaitlyn Lyle Ryder's Obituary
Dr. Kaitlyn “Katie” Lyle Ryder, 32, passed away Sunday, June 7th, 2026 from complications related to recurrent cancer.
Katie was born on April 21st, 1994 in Heerlen, Holland as the first of two children for David and Lisa Lyle. As a military child she had the experience of frequent moves from across the country before “settling down” in northwest Florida. Forever a scholar, she attended Milton High School in Milton, Florida before going on to study Electrical Engineering at the University of Alabama as an undergraduate and on to Vanderbilt University to receive her doctorate. Post-graduation, Katie moved to Maryland to work at NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center as an engineer working to ensure that a wide variety of space-based instruments can survive their hostile space environments.
Outside of work, Katie enjoyed a quiet existence with her family, often choosing hobbies that let her go at whatever pace tickled her fancy. Katie was an avid reader with a particular emphasis on science fiction and high fantasy. It was not uncommon for her to start a new book and end up going to work the next day exhausted as she read through the night. While Katie decried cooking as too fluid, she loved baking for the precision of recipes. She loved the winter holiday season in no small part because she knew she could bake as many pies and treats as she wanted with the knowledge that there was always someone to share them with. Later in her life, Katie developed a deep passion for painting that she leaned on heavily as an emotional outlet for the complexity of life. She primarily created small, landscape-themed paintings that she would excitedly gift to the people in her life.
Katie had her first brush with cancer as a high school sophomore and she roundly defeated it through a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, old and new friends, Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, and the Winter Olympics. While her brush with child cancer left lasting scars, it only steeled her resolve to live her life the way she wanted. Whether it was hiking on mountains in New Mexico and Tennessee or long nights climbing stairs and contorting herself at old particle accelerator facilities, Katie made sure no physical limitations would hinder in any part of her life. Even when her cancer returned, she never faltered in her drive to things she wanted to do. As long as she had her laptop and painting supplies, she was ready for whatever hardships were coming.
Katie left an indelible mark on so many people and will live on in their hearts and memories. By no means a comprehensive list, Katie’s memory will be carried forward by her husband Dr. Landen Ryder, father and step-mother David & Brenda Lyle, mother Lisa Lyle, brother Derick Lyle, parents-in-law Vincent & Lanora Ryder, and brother-in-law Chase Ryder.
Just like at her wedding, in lieu of flowers or gifts Katie would ask that people make donations to childhood cancer foundations like Make-A-Wish or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. These organizations were so important to Katie because they place the focus on children in a world that increasingly only cares about adults.
https://wish.org/ https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude-today.html
A celebration of life service will be announced at a later date.
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