Raymond E. Salyer, Sr.

Raymond E. Salyer Sr. January 13, 1936 – January 5, 2006 Raymond Eugene Salyer, Sr., went home to his heavenly father Thursday, January 5, 2006 at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple following a long and courageous battle with cancer. Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 9, at First Baptist Church of Lorena, 307 East Center St. and the I-35 S. access road. Rev. Mike Patterson and Rev. Daniel Downy to officiate service. Ray was born January 13, 1936 in Coeburn, VA to Charles O Salyer and Dewey Burnett Salyer. He graduated from Coeburn High School in 1954 and received an Associates degree from the University of Virginia Clinch Valley College in 1956. He completed his undergraduate degree at Union College in Barbourville, KY in May of 1958. He joined the United States Air Force in 1958 and served as a psychiatric social worker at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. He married Wanda Troglen of Evarts, Kentucky July 25, 1959 in Alamogordo, New Mexico. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force, Ray earned his Masters of Social Work degree from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, TX. While working on his two year’s master’s program, he also served as Director of Social Work for the South Texas Children's Home near Beeville, Texas. Ray then took a position as a Professional Psychiatric Social Worker for the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Danville, IL September of 1968. He then transferred back to Texas in 1970 to begin working at the VA Hospital in Waco where he served until his retirement in September of 1997. Ray began his service as a deacon in the Baptist church when he was ordained at Highland Baptist Church in Waco. There were years of service at First Baptist Church of Woodway and then he became a member of First Baptist Church of Lorena where he served faithfully until illness kept him from active service. He loved his church family and his pastors and held numerous positions as Sunday school teacher and committee member. He served as chairman of the Deacon body in 1985 and again in 1987. One of his favorite ministries was to the sick, shut-ins, widows and those in nursing homes. Many of his friends will remember his big, joyful laugh and his great love for animals and the Dallas Cowboys. He is survived by wife of 46 years, Wanda Salyer, Lorena; son, Raymond E. Salyer Jr. and wife, Kathy and grandson Charles Raymond Salyer and granddaughter Brianna Salyer of Houston; daughter, Tracye R. Salyer and granddaughter Makenzie Salyer also of Houston; sisters, Dorothy Dingus of Richmond, VA and Edna Stallard and husband, Don of Summerville, SC; brother, Carl Salyer and wife, Joann of Sundance, WY and several neices and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, C. O. Salyer, Jr., brother-in-law, Lamar Dingus, Nephew, Benny Dingus, sister-in-law, Bobbie Salyer and mother-in-law, Martha Troglen. Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church, 307 E. Church St, Lorena, TX, 76655. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey