Published: March 21, 2009 11:56 pm      

William Loyd Faison

William Loyd Faison, 86, of Neches, born June 16, 1922, went to be with his Lord and “Lady Lily” on March 13, 2009, following a valiant effort rehabilitating from hip and leg surgery.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lily Mae; and brother-in-law, Erich F. Klein Jr.

He is survived by his brother, Glenn E. Faison; four daughters, Angela O’Neill, Andrea Sommer, Valerie Tiller and Melanie Walker; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives and friends.

He graduated from Gladewater High School, Baylor University and South Texas College of Law.

William Loyd proudly served in the United States Army as a captain during World War II.

Having a 33 year career with the former Humble Oil & Refining Co., he was on the legal committee which developed the legal steps for changing the corporate name to Exxon in 1972. Later, Mr. Faison was appointed manager of human resources for Exxon. With his life-long love of the “Piney Woods” he retired in 1980 to East Texas. He devoted the latter years of his life to reforestation and serving the needs of the community.

He was a member of the Texas and Anderson County Bar Association, the Palestine Kiwanis Club, First Baptist Church and Texas Forestry Association.

Mr. Faison was known for his storytelling, love of foreign languages, sayings, humorous or poetic ways with words, and his personal philosophies on life. As an avid writer, he wrote, “ I want to die young, as late as possible.” and “My hope, my prayer, is that you enjoy life as I have and the richness and fullness of God’s promise fill you, comfort you, and keep you as I have been comforted, kept, and fulfilled.”

The family wishes to thank the staff at Waterton Plaza at Shiloh Senior Care, Tyler, Texas, for their dedication and care of Mr. Faison while he was rehabilitating away from home.

After cremation in a private memorial, Mr. Faison requested it to be simple, a time of rejoicing and to, “Sprinkle my ashes on my land and watch for the flowers to burst forth with splendor in the spring. When you see the flowers, the grass turning green, the trees putting on leaves, think of me and my new life. I’ll be with you in spirit. May the peace of God surround you all and sustain you, for I have already found it. You die to live again. This is the new life with God. Hallelujah!” His family requests that donations in his loving memory be sent to Legacy Hospice, Hope Foundation,120 E. South Town, Tyler, Texas, 75703, or your favorite charity.