March 16, 1940 - June 1, 2025
Sam Garland “Bill” Salyer, age 85, of Spring City, Tennessee died on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at the Decatur Wellness and Rehab Center in Decatur, Tennessee.
He was born on March 16, 1940 in Hazard, Kentucky to the late Patrick and Anita Taylor Salyer and has been a resident of this area since 1978. Bill was a graduate of Hialeah High School in Hialeah, Florida. After high school, he joined the United States Navy where he served as a jet mechanic for 22 years, working primarily at Air Force Bases and on aircraft carriers. He even worked on the airplanes of the US Navy Blue Angels display team. Bill established B&B Specialties, his motorcycle repair business, on Mars Hill Road in the early ‘80s, was a certified Master Welder, and established the Mars Hill Volunteer Fire Department. In the 90’s, he took over the running of Pat’s Barbeque on Mars Hill Road for several years. Bill also loved all of the cats and dogs he had over the years, and was a keen bird watcher.
Bill is preceded in death by his sister Patricia Banks and his nephew Bobby Banks.
Survivors include his wife Sheila Ann Salyer of Spring City, Tennessee; his children William “Billy” Salyer IIof Ocala, Florida, Pamela Anne Salyer of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Penny Covington of Crossville, Tennessee; his four grandchildren and two great grandchildren; his dogs Moe and Curly; his brother-in-law Tom Banks of Spring City, Tennessee; his niece Lori Armstrong of Spring City, Tennessee; and his nephew Tom Banks, Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia.
A graveside service with military honors will be held on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. at the Spring City Memorial Gardens with Rev. Grace Hammer officiating. The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 8, 2025 from 12:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. at Vaughn Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate or via mail P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675, in his memory.
Vaughn Funeral Home of Spring City is in charge of the arrangements of William Garland “Bill” Salyer and asks that friends share condolences and memories of him with the family on our website www.vaughn-funeral-home.com.