Clay County Texas - Obituaries - Lyles, J.T ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Julie Coley neatstuffgifts@aol.com July 22, 2006, 9:13 am Wichita Falls Times Record News J.T. Lyles July 21, 2006 HENRIETTA - J.T. Lyles, 91, of Henrietta, passed away on Sunday, July 16, 2006, in Henrietta. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 22, 2006, at the First United Methodist Church in Henrietta, with the Rev. John Fleming, pastor, officiating and Jerry Payne assisting. Burial will be in the Hope Cemetery in Henrietta, under the direction of Davis Funeral Home in Henrietta. Mr. Lyles was born on March 1, 1915, in Clay County to Marvin and Pearlena (Sanzenbacher) Lyles, both natives of Clay County. His maternal and paternal grandparents came to the county more than a century ago to engage in farming and ranching. He attended Russell Creek School for seven years, Bluegrove High School for two years, and graduated from high school at Bellevue in 1932. He was honor boy graduate of his graduating class. After attending college at John Tarleton in Stephenville, he was associated with his father in the cattle business until enlisting in the U.S. Army in March 1942. He married Helen Ashton of Burkburnett on May 17, 1942. Mr. Lyles attended laboratory technician's school while stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio and served in Africa and France for almost three years as chief of the bacteriology section of the Fourth Medical Laboratory. Following his discharge from the armed services in January 1946, he entered the cattle business with a cousin, Lewis Brown, of Clay County. Together they operated the B&L Cattle Company for 30 years without ever having a written contract. Mr. Lyles was a member of the Clay County Pioneer Association for more than a half century and served three three-year terms on the Nine-Man Board. Twice he was elected board chairman. He and his wife, Helen served as Co-Chairman of the Reception Committee for many years. They hosted the Rodeo Queen's Dinner each year. To honor the passing of his wife Helen, the Pioneer Association changed the name of the Rodeo Queen's Dinner, to the Helen Lyles Memorial Dinner that he continued to host. They together also helped to host the annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet honoring the Nine-Man Board, Pioneer Officials, and Committee Chairmen. Mr. and Mrs. Lyles contributed to two archway entrances to the pioneer grounds in memory of his mother, Mrs. Pearlena Sanzenbacher Lyles, a pioneer booster of the association who reigned as Pioneer Queen in 1971. Mr. Lyles was a director of the Federal Land Bank Association of Wichita Falls for more than 20 years and served as president of its Board of Directors. He was a member of the Stockholders' Committee of the Federal Land Bank Association for two three-year terms. He served as chairman of this statewide eight-member committee during his second term. He was a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers' Association and the Texas Farm Bureau. He was a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5401, Henrietta. In August 1978, he was commissioned a "Kentucky Colonel" by Julian M. Carroll, governor of Kentucky. Mr. Lyles was an active participant in the Great Plains Soil Conservation Program for many years. He was recognized as the Outstanding Soil Conservationist of the Little Wichita Soil Conservation District by the Lions Club International. Mr. and Mrs. Lyles resided in the Neville Community southwest of Henrietta until August 1963, when they moved to Henrietta. He continued to engage in farm and ranch operations in Clay and Wichita Counties until his death on July 16, 2006. Mr. Lyles was preceded in death by his parents: Pearlena Sanzenbacher Lyles and Mr. Marvin Lyles; wife, Helen Ashton Lyles; sister, Lillian Lyles Kerr and brother-in-law, Wilton Louis Kerr, Jr.; sister, Ida Mae Lyles Mayfield and brother-in-law Carl Mayfield. Survivors include three nieces, Karen Kerr Bryant and husband Bill of Henrietta, Sharon Kerr Fitts and husband Jeff of Henrietta, Carla Sue Mayfield Pullen and husband Rayford of Bellevue; three great-nieces: Kerri Bryant Beaver and husband Mike of Wichita Falls, Marsha Moss of Amarillo, Texas, and Jaclyn Fitts of Austin, Texas; three great-nephews, William Wade Bryant and wife Trish of Henrietta; Justin Fitts and future bride Chelsea of Round Rock, Texas, and Lee Moss of Bellevue; great-great-nephews, Anthony Moss of Bellevue and Wil Beaver of Wichita Falls. A special thank you to Rejoice Ohli who has been a godsend to the family for the constant care she gave to J.T. Other caregivers are Wanda Burris of Byers and Tonya Wilson of Henrietta. Faithful co-workers and friends include Fred and Annyce Moore of Midway, Texas, Patricia Scheer of Henrietta, Patricia Sandlin of Paducah and Melicia Riveras of Waurika, Okla. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 65, Henrietta, Texas 76365 or the Clay County Pioneer Association, P.O. Box 4, Henrietta, Texas, 76365. Pallbearers will be George Slagle, Terry Butler, Billy Bob Browning, Kevin Derzapf, Steve Wilson, Jim Bagwill and Leonard Phillips. Honorary Pallbearers will be Edd and Florine Laughorn, Harry and Nancy Forbes, Jerry and Frances Mathis, Clarence and Sue Klein, Fred and Iris Dwyer, Willy and Barbara Morton, Dennis Hill, Steve Jordan, Roy Heismith and Jimmy Rhoderick.