Amber Lynn DeRyke

Amber Lynn DeRyke, age 29, of Springfield Missouri passed away on April 19, 2018 at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. Amber was born November 23, 1988 in Unionville, Missouri to Sherry Lynn Baker and Daniel Louis DeRyke. She enjoyed spending time with family and her friends at Cambridge day program. Amber attended Milan CII school in Milan, MO. Then when Amber and her family moved to Bolivar, MO, Amber finished her education at the Bolivar Center Developmentally Disabled (BCDD). While at BCDD, Amber participated in the annual BCDD plays and learned social skills and various skills to allow her to increase her independence. Amber was always excited about outdoor activities that included boat and golf cart rides at the campground and playing on the swings and merry go rounds at the park. She also loved to ride next to her dad in his truck. Amber enjoyed being read to, and one of her favorite places to visit was The Library Station. She enjoyed the library for the large toy train that circled the room, watching the children, listening to music (Elvis being a favorite), and playing with the toys. Amber's favorite holiday was Christmas. She would get excited over holiday decorations and would light up when Santa entered the room. Amber had a very full social life attending community and sporting events. Some of the events she attended regularly were A Day at the Range (where she fished, shot firearms, and did crafts with her peers), Springfield Cardinal baseball games, parades, the occasional concert and people watching at Branson Landing, and the numerous agency parties with her peers and gatherings with her peers at their homes to bake for the holidays. One would rarely see Amber without her spoons and "twirlies". Amber also greatly enjoyed helium balloons and setting them free to watch the balloons float to the ceiling to be batted around by the ceiling fan. Amber is survived by her mother, Sherry Lynn (Baker) Cochran, stepfather Jim Cochran, brother Beau Morris and wife Sherry Morris, step-siblings Patrick and Ashley Cochran, Joshua Cochran and Brandon Cochran, and maternal grandparents, Rodney and Pamella Cryderman and paternal grandmother Mary DeRyke and step-grandfather Jim Cochran Sr. Uncles and aunts; Brian and Kathy Cryderman, Vicky Gooch, Kenny and Janice DeRyke, Eddie Harrison, Lisa (DeRyke) and Todd Sharp, Carl and Christina DeRyke and Kenneth and Amy Cochran. Amber is also survived by numerous loving cousins, a special friend Katherine (Kitty) Bunch and her many caregivers who enriched Amber's life to make her independence possible. Amber was preceded in death by her father, Daniel DeRyke, her sister Olivia DeRyke, paternal grandmother Mildred McClaskey Brown, paternal grandfather Donald DeRyke, uncles Tim Harrison and Curtis Gooch, and step-grandmother Linda Cochran. Amber will be remembered in two services: Dan Kinney Family Center in the Community Room, Springfield Missouri, April 26, 2018. A celebration of Amber's life will begin at 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Her family encourages those who wish to share a brief memory of Amber. Graveside services at Asbury Cemetery in Milan Missouri will be held on April 28, 2018 at 10:00 am. Amber's family encourages those who wish to share a memory of Amber to do so. Arrangements were provided by both Adams Funeral Home of Nixa MO, and Rucshmeier Funeral Home of Milan MO. Memorial donations can be made in Amber's name to Southwest Center for Independent Living (SCIL) located at 2864 S. Nettleton Ave. Springfield MO, 65807, or tribute gifts can be made online at www.swcil.org (menu button then donate).