Mark Ryan, a fixture in the tobacco community, particularly with Perique tobacco, passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025, in Clayton, NC. He was 69 years old.
In 1992, Mark founded Daughters & Ryan, Inc., a tobacco company which he owned and operated for 28 years. In 2005, Mark purchased L.A. Poche Perique Tobacco Company in Convent, Louisiana, where he remained the owner until his death. Perique tobacco is commonly seen in the pipe community. Mark is best known in the cigar community for hosting Drew Estate’s Louisiana Barnsmoker events. Drew Estate collaborated with Mark to implement L.A. Poche’s barrel fermentation project for the Pappy Van Winkle Barrel Fermented Cigar, which involved aging Kentucky Fire-Cured leaf.
In addition, Mark worked to preserve the legacy of the historic perique tobacco. Mark enjoyed hosting friends from near and far to tour the perique factory and experience the local culture. Mark won numerous awards for his contributions to the tobacco industry, including the Golden Leaf Award.
Services will be conducted on Saturday, May 10, at Parrish Funeral Home, with a visitation beginning at 10:00am and a funeral service at 11:00am. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park. Mark is survived by his partner, Emily; his daughter Patricia and son-in-law Adam; his daughter Rebecca and son-in-law, Anil; and his beloved grandchildren, Caleb, Amelia, and Rishi.
Mark’s full obituary is here.
