Dayland Parsons

Dayland V. Parsons, 85, of Abilene, Texas, passed away in his home surrounded by family and entered his heavenly home on Sunday, June 2, 2024.

Dayland Parsons was born on May 7, 1939, to Robert Victor Parsons and Lula Mary Byrum Parsons in Abilene, Texas. At the age of 12, he confessed Jesus Christ as his savior at an RA camp in Lueders Texas and was baptized at Immanuel Baptist Church. After graduating from Abilene High School in 1957. He earned a BBA from Hardin Simmons University in business and banking finance. In 1961, he graduated from Hardin Simmons University and was commissioned together with his brother Wayland Parsons as 2nd Lieutenants in the US Army. He remained on active duty for the Army from 1962-1964 and continued to serve in the Army Reserves until he retired from the Reserves as a Major in 1978.

Dayland married Kay Sharon Jones on August 20, 1960, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas. They took their honeymoon in Anson, Texas and the two remained happily married for 64 years.

Dayland started his Public Health career as a health inspector for Abilene Taylor County Health Department in 1964 as a sanitarian Inspector.

In 1969, Dayland continued his public health service with the Texas Department of Health as the Region 4 - Long Term Care Health surveyor.

In 1973, Dayland was transferred to Austin, Texas as the Divisional Director of Long-Term Care Services for the Texas Department of Health.

In 1987, Dayland was promoted to Bureau Chief of Community and Rural Health for the Texas Department of Health.

In 1990, Dayland was named the Associate Commissioner of Community and Rural Health for the Texas Department of Health until he retired from the State of Texas in 1994.

Upon his retirement in 1994, Dayland was appointed the CEO and Executive Director of the Texas Health Foundation until 2007.

Dayland was a deeply faithful Christian who used his leadership skills to teach and lead people to Christ. He and his family were faithful members of Immanuel Baptist Church in Abilene. Then he served as a deacon, an usher, and a youth bible class teacher at Hyde Park Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. When they moved back to Abilene, he continued teaching bible class and were devoted members at Pioneer Baptist Church. His favorite line was "We love our Family, We love our Church and we laugh all the way to the other side". - Always be about Family.

He was also known to follow all sports whether it was his grandkids playing, his favorite college team, or keeping up with the pros. He could be found at the Longhorn Baseball games and Round Rock Express games.

Dayland and Kay enjoyed traveling across America. They enjoyed their "car-cation" with friends and families. They saw thousands of miles and hundreds of locations traveling across the grand United States of America.

Dayland and Kay had 3 children, Stephanie Lynn Parsons Reynolds, Vincent Kirk Parsons, and Connie Xan Parsons Richards.

Dayland Parsons was predeceased by his father Robert Victor Parsons, mother Lula Mary Parsons, sister Wanda Parsons Fuller, brother-in-law Jerry Fuller, and daughter Stephanie Parsons Reynolds. Dayland is survived by his wife Kay Sharon (Jones) Parsons; his brother and sister-in-law Wayland & Ellen (Potts) Parsons; his son and daughter-in-law Kirk and Diane Parsons; his daughter and son-in-law Connie and Jody Richards. His beloved Grandkids are: Chance & Millie Parsons, Milo & Jennifer Parsons, Shafer & Marshal Thornhill, Catherine Fuller, Hannah Parsons, Maddison Richards, Joseph & Emily Richards, and Reese & Kelly Richards. He is also survived by 9 great grandkids: Winston Parsons, Henrik, Hudson, and Hunter Parsons, Joseph and Annie Richards, and Lily and Riley Kay Richards, and Bristol Paige Thornhill.