The Yukon has lost one of its own.

Life-long Yukoner Lloyd Ryder passed away Monday at the age of 87.

He is remembered by many Yukoners for his lengthy flying career, which began in 1956. He began flying commercially in 1962 with Whitehorse Flying Service.

Ryder was honoured by the Yukon Transportation Hall of Fame in 2007 with the Order of Polaris Aviation Award.

It came more than a decade after Ryder had retired from a career that saw him do everything from training new aspiring pilots like a young Bob Cameron to flying then-U.S. senator Bobby Kennedy's expedition team to Mount Kennedy in the 1965.

As Cameron, who knew Ryder his entire life, said in an interview Tuesday, that was likely one of the highlights of his flying career.

At the time, Ryder was one of the few pilots "willing and happy to” fly into mountainous terrain like Mount Kennedy.

"Lloyd was the natural (for the job),” Cameron said.

While many knew Ryder as a pilot, others may remember him delivering fuel and fire wood to their homes prior to his aviation career, when he worked with his father, George.

Still others will recall his volunteer efforts in the community over the years.

At the request of the family, a more in-depth look at Ryder's life will be published next week.