Dates
Samuel John Wylie, III, born September 16, 1948, passed away on March 7, 2025 due to complications from esophageal cancer and leukemia. Born in Sherman, Texas to Samuel John Wylie, Jr. and Josephine Bonnie Franz, John was the light of his parents lives. As a child, John was an active and imaginative boy. He could often be found running around at family gatherings, catching critters, and playing practical jokes. He loved telling the story of the time his grandfather, Ezra Frantz, went to take a bath and found the tub full of snakes (no doubt, his mother loved that story less).
John was a preacher’s kid. He credit’s his father’s career with providing him opportunities to meet new people, experience new environments, and enjoy new schools. John graduated from Denison High School in 1967. He enjoyed his time in the FFA while in school. He joined the United States Navy in 1967 and served until 1971 as an aircraft structural mechanic. While on active duty, John was stationed in Key West, Florida until 1969 and then transferred to Virginia Beach, Virginia where he stayed until he was discharged. After leaving the service, John returned to Denison, Texas and worked as a brick layer’s assistant for a short time. He then worked for John-Mansville, a company that specialized in fabricating plastic conduit pipe, before transitioning to Geophysical Services, Inc., which located oil on land and beneath the water. John moved to San Angelo, Texas in 1975, and worked for a time at the San Angelo Center in Carlsbad, Texas. At the encouragement of his uncle, Dr. Escal Duke, John attended Angelo State University and graduated with his Bachelor of Science, majoring in psychology, in 1981. He graduated with his Masters of Education in 1989. John worked as a public school teacher with San Angelo Independent School District from 1980-1989. He decided that he would be able to better connect with and help his students and their families as a therapist. From 1989 to 1991, he worked with Dr. Rider at West Texas Medical Associates before going into private practice as a licensed professional counselor in 1992. While in private practice he worked with MHMR as a Crisis Resolution Specialist, a contract provider for the State of Texas, a counselor for Hallman, Wylie, & Ries, a professional trainer for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a provider for the West Texas Boys Ranch, and more. He retired for the first time in 2003, returned to private practice briefly, before accepting a position at River Crest Hospital, returning to private practice once more, and retiring for a final time in 2016.
He married Kathleen White on June 2, 1979 in San Angelo, Texas. They met at Angelo State University in the registration line - as their last names both started with “W.” Kathleen recalled that there was an extra credit assignment for one of their classes and John told her that they were predestined to go together. It was fate. They enjoyed getting to know one another driving around in her Fiat while John sang “I’m a Hog For You” and drinking coffee at the student union. Their marriage welcomed the birth of two daughters, Heather and Caitlin, and numerous beloved animals (as John’s personal rule was “no animal left behind”). John’s fun-loving nature extended to fatherhood. He would make up stories to tell his daughters at bedtime, would play practical jokes (like leaving fake poop in the hallway - his favorite prank), and finding ways to connect with them through classic rock or horror movies. He welcomed the birth of his grandson, Harrison, in 2022 and enjoyed spending time with “his boy” as much as he could. He spoke of wanting to take his grandson fishing and enjoying watching the way he explored the world around him.
John was a natural storyteller. He loved regaling his friends and family with antics from his past: racing cars, his time in the Navy, and time spent growing up in North Texas. In his retirement, John enjoyed spending time with his friends Bill and Janet Norman. He especially enjoyed fishing with Bill. The two had many a fine time hunting good fishing spots all over Tom Green, Coke, and Concho counties. Bill, he looked forward to a day he could fish again with you. Thank you for being a brother from another mother for many years. He also enjoyed spending time with his dear friends Beth and Harold Peterson. Beth, you were a wonderful friend and mentor. Thank you for being such a treasure to us and courtesy aunt to our girls.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Josephine Wylie; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ivan and Dot White; brother-in-law, Patrick White; and nephew, Jason White. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Kathleen; his daughter Heather and son-in-law Zachary Knappe; grandson, Harrison Knappe; daughter Caitlin Wylie; sister-in-law Cynthia White; sister-in-law Patti White; nephew Brian White and husband Ron Vineyard; cousin Mary Ellen Astudillo; as well as numerous extended family members and many beloved friends.
The Wylie family would like to extend thanks to Dr. Forlano; Dr. Cummings and the staff at Shannon Oncology; Dr. Meenavalli with Palliative Care; the wonderful nurses of Shannon’s Intensive Care Unit; and Dr. Hitchcock of Hospice of San Angelo. John wanted to encourage anyone with acid reflux to please discuss the possibility of cancer with your doctor.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you please donate to an animal charity of your choosing. Private services to be held for friends and family.
John spent many years caring for clients and giving to his community. He would like to remind everyone about the importance of taking care of one another; in the words of Ram Dass: “We’re all just walking each other home.”