Lyman Harrison Saylor 1
- Born: 9 Jan 1925, Temple, Bell County, Texas 2 3 4
- Marriage (1): Lucy Lee Reeves
- Marriage (2): Gloria Tanner
- Died: 13 Sep 2004, Port Lavaca, Calhoun County, Texas at age 79 2 4
General Notes:
Lyman Harrison Saylor
Lyman Harrison Saylor, born Jan. 9, 1925 in Temple, left this life on Sept. 13, 2004 at the age of 79. He was tenderly cared for at the end by the superb nursing staff of Memorial Medical Center in Port Lavaca for whom no adequate words of thanks can be given.
Preceding him in death were his parents Jacob and Mabel DeWolfe Saylor of Goldthwaite.
He is survived by his wife and partner of 43 years, Gloria Tanner Saylor; stepdaughter, Allison Crabtree of Gainesville; his three children of his marriage to Lucy Reeves Saylor, now deceased: Ronald Saylor and wife Karen of Austin, Steven Saylor of Berkeley, Calif. and Gwyn Saylor and husband Royce Tolley of Denver, Col; grandchildren, Rachel and Jacob Saylor, Evan and Aubree Tolley and John, Paul and Luke Crabtree.
A World War II veteran serving in Germany and France, he earned the EAME campaign medal with four bronze stars and was awarded the Purple Heart. As with many others, the experiences of that war forever remained a strong focus in his life. A lover and student of history whether world, national or local, he revered the past, its objects, memories and lessons.
Self-employed all his life except for a six month stint with Chance Vought Aircraft which was definitely not to his liking, he continued the business he learned from his father who established Saylor House Moving in 1905, that of house moving and leveling, This was an occupation he loved and which he took great pride in doing well. He moved the Half Moon Reef Lighthouse twice, all 60,000 pounds of it. Having never moved a boat or launched one, his unconventional sideways launch of a 90- foot vessel at the city harbor after Hurricane Carla was perfectly done with barely a splash of the water. A man of innate mechanical and engineering ability there was very little he could not do, figure out or make.
He served as a city councilman and planning board member in Port Lavaca and loved this town where he came to live in the early 1950s. A regular at the round table in the coffee room at First National Bank, he delighted in this daily "meeting of the minds" with his friends. He loved flying his own plane to the Gulf beaches to fish in earlier years. Snow skiing in Canada gave him some of his happiest moments. He loved all things scientific and truly had an inquiring mind. A voracious reader, he never stopped learning and being interested in the natural world around him.
Though fiercely independent, pragmatic beyond belief, often intractable and highly opinionated, he was never boring and will remain the most interesting, surprising and varied person this writer has ever known. He always lived his life on his own terms and faced his impending death in the same manner.
In accordance with his wishes, there will be no services and his ashes will be scattered on the snows of the mountains of Sunshine Village near Banff. No flowers please: The most fitting memorial that could be made, if desired, would be to Adopt A Pet, 2308 N. Main, Victoria, Texas 77901 or P.A.W.S. at Box 4445, Victoria, Texas, 77903. Nothing could honor or please him more than this for he loved the creatures of the world, most especially our large family of cats. Life will go on for all of us who knew him, but the zest and panache he provided will be sorely missed.
Additional Information:
• Military Service: World War II.
Lyman married Lucy Lee Reeves, daughter of Horace W. Reeves and Ada Juanita Venable. (Lucy Lee Reeves was born on 6 Jul 1927 in , Mills County, Texas 5 and died on 17 Apr 1984 in , Travis County, Texas 6.)
Lyman next married Gloria Tanner.
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