Rylan Alexander Bledsoe

Rylan Alexander Bledsoe, age 27, died on July 6 at his home in North Knoxville. Rylan was the beloved father of Walter Bledsoe, son of Wayne Bledsoe and the late Ruth Bledsoe, and brother of Lauren Bledsoe and the late Andrew Bledsoe. Rylan was a well-known Knoxville multi-instrumentalist musician best known for his work as a drummer/singer/songwriter with the band Yak Strangler and former drummer of the band The Crumbsnatchers. He was also known to perform solo or in various configurations in clubs and public spaces around downtown Knoxville. He was also an accomplished cook and took pride in his jobs at Pop's Donuts, Tupelo Honey, Bistro at the Bijou, the Oliver Royale, as well as making meals for family and friends. Many of his best friends were made while working at Chick-Fil-A in West Town. Rylan earned a bachelor of science degree in materials engineering from the University of Tennessee and had planned to return to the university to earn his Master's degree in the fall. He was also a red belt in taekwondo and had been an instructor at the Fierce Tiger Martial Arts Academy. Rylan was born and grew up in Knoxville and attended Powell Elementary, Middle and High School b...[more]

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re attending the University of Tennessee. He was a music student, at various times, of Jeff Bills, Keith Brown, Larry Long, Donald Brown and Bill Mize. In addition to his son, father and sister, Rylan leaves grandmother Gaye Vandergriff, aunts and uncles, Carolyn Stevens, Mary and David Cobb, Kathryn and Mike LaMance, Walter's mother Lauren Bishop, many cousins, including Adam and Robin Crawford, Amy Batson, Matthew LaMance, Rachel LaMance, David, Catherine and Meredith Buckner, and so many, many wonderful close friends. In addition to his mother and brother, he is preceded in death by grandparents Nancy Stevens, Dick Stevens, H.C. Vandergriff and great-grandparent Margaret Lucille Nicely. The family will hold a very small private memorial in the near future and will hold an outdoor, pandemic-conscious public memorial service sometime thereafter. Details of the public service will be posted on Facebook and at www.waynestock.org when they are complete. Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Bledsoe family and invites you to view and sign the online registry.