Rylan Daniel Sandoval

Rylan Daniel Sandoval, 25, of Farmington, beloved son, brother, nephew and friend, returned to his heavenly home on Sunday, April 17, 2011. He was born July 2, 1985, in Farmington, to Ronald and Patricia Sandoval. Rylan attended Farmington High School. He was employed with D & J Drilling. As a child, Rylan played baseball, basketball and football. At the age of 10, he traveled with his siblings from New Mexico to Montana on a summer road trip. Rylan continued his participation in sports throughout junior high school. Rylan also was a member of the Hermosa Junior High School track team, and participated in shot put and discus. He also was a violist with the junior high orchestra. Rylan loved the outdoors, enjoying time with his friends and family. He was an exceptional artist, but his greatest passion was mixed martial arts. Rylan "The Cannonball" Sandoval was a feared striker with dangerous submission skills. Sporting a 6-2 record, Rylan won his first six matches in a row, with five of those wins coming within the first round. He was definitely a fighter on the rise who simply ran out of time. Rylan was a former Desert Extreme World Lightweight champion and also mentored and worked with many teammates and current professional fighters. Rylan was very proud of his school "Team 4-Corners," his teammates, and especially his coach, Floyd Sword. Rylan had many dreams, aspirations and goals that were left unfinished. He loved his nieces and nephews immensely and freely gave of his time as an uncle. He looked forward to one to starting a family of his own one day. Rylan lived his young life to the fullest and his endearing smile and charismatic personality will be greatly missed by many. He is survived by his father, Ronald Sandoval; mother, Patricia Manus-Sandoval; sisters, Raechante Sandoval of Albuquerque and Renae Watchman of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; brother, Ronson Sandoval of Farmington; grandmother, Victoria Sandoval, also of Farmington; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces and friends. Cope Memorial Kirtland 458 Road 6100 Kirtland, New Mexico 505-598-9636