Gaylen Mendel Wilson

Greenwood ~ Gaylen Mendel Wilson, 87, went to be with our Lord at his home the morning of Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

 Graveside service is 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 24, 2020 at Sycamore Cemetery. Family will receive friends 10-noon Saturday at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur. Open visitation is 5-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

 Pastor Todd Stevens of Slidell Baptist Church will officiate. Pallbearers will include Bodie Cole, Chris Fletcher, Colter Boynton, Jacob Wilson, Levi Wilson, David Elliott, Garrett Upshaw, Blain Upshaw, Noah Elliott, and Hunter Malone.

 Gaylen was born December 27, 1932 to James John and Elsie Marie (Hayes) Wilson in Greenwood, Texas. He was one of five children. Gaylen was united in marriage in 1953 to Sue Wilson. They had three daughters, Gaye, Joye, and Lynn. He married in 1976 to Rosa and became a father to her five children, they were married for 40 years before her passing in 2016. Gaylen worked at the dairy with his father after proudly serving in the United States Army for 2 years. He later went on to own and operate his own dairy business for 40 years, where he farmed, and raised cattle.

 He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of over 40 years, Rosa Wilson; his brothers, Rodney and Darrell Wilson; his step-sons, Ted and Ricky Wilson.

Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Gaye Cole of Greenwood, Joye Malone of Greenwood, and Lynn Shively and hisband Ron of Clairmore, Oklahoma; his step-sons, Dennis Wilson and wife Connie, and Robert Wilson of Greenwood; his step-daughter, Shirly Russell Dean and husband Jeff of Wichita Falls; his sisters, Joyce Forgnson and husband James of Hungerford, Trudy Williams and husband Ernie of Big Sandy; his sister-in-laws, Beth Wilson of Ponder, and Mary Ella Wilson of Greenwood; his 22 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.

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