Steven Tilford Hamlyn

Steven Tilford Hamlyn went to be with the Lord at the young age of 71 on Sunday, October 1st, 2023, at home in Robstown, Texas.  Steve was just about as good as they come. He came off as the strong, silent type, but if you were fortunate enough to spend any time with him, you knew he loved people, loved to visit, and was the kindest, truest, most generous man, solid in every way, a leader and a true cowboy to the core.  His hands told the story of a rancher and mechanic, but if you ever had the pleasure of hearing him play the mandolin, the banjo, or the fiddle or if you ever got to read one of his poems, or listen to him tell a story, or were lucky enough to receive the gift of one of his leather scabbards, then you know that those hands told another story, too.  He was also a writer, musician, artist, and a craftsman. He was a brilliant man who preferred to live a simple life, and what a wonderful life it was!

Steve was born on January 8th, 1952, at Peterson Hospital in Kerrville, Texas to Marjorie Jacqueline Burney and John Harold Hamlyn.  He was the third born of six children and the apple of his mother’s eye.  His father was a chemical engineer for Celanese, so their family lived in several different places during his childhood, but some of his fondest memories came from the time they spent living in Cedar Lane, Texas. It was here that his love of music and playing instruments and riding horses was born.  Steve was a cowboy from the start, earning money as a kid by hauling hay and selling the tomatoes he grew to buy his own horse.  He attended Van Vleck High School until his family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where he then graduated from Calallen High School in 1970.  It was during his time in Calallen that he met a beautiful brown-eyed, brown haired twirler and homecoming queen named Kay.

Steve attended Texas A&I University in Kingsville for a year and then Steve and Kay were married on February 5th, 1972.

He worked for Coastal States, Lavaca, and then Valero Energy Corporation for over 20 years as a Gas Compressor Mechanic and then a Field Mechanical Superintendent.  He then owned and operated a Lease Service business, Huisache Energy Services before retiring.  He was a member of the Santa Gertrudis Association, Jim Well’s County Beef Cattle Improvement Association, Former Texas Ranger’s Association (His Great-Great Grandfather was a Texas Ranger), Texas Division Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the Center Point Area Historic Preservation Association.  He loved raising and working cattle, sitting on his porch swing with mom watching the birds and deer while drinking their morning coffee, hunting, fishing, and most of all, he loved and adored his children and grandchildren.

Steve is survived by his wife of 51 years, Kay Worden Hamlyn; son, Shawn Hamlyn and his wife, Randi of Robstown, Texas; daughter, Lisa Hamlyn Field and her husband Roger of Hunt, Texas; grandsons, Brigham Hamlyn, Billy, Jackson, and Harrison Field, and granddaughters, Evin Hamlyn, and Dylan and Emerson Field; brothers, Stan Hamlyn (Vanessa) of Victoria, Texas, Clay Hamlyn of Bay City, Texas and sisters, Ginny Bell of Portland, Texas and Lugene Barnett (Sammy) of Marion, Texas as well as many beloved nieces and nephews all of whom he adored. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, John and Jackie Hamlyn and his brother, Jack Gregory Hamlyn.

His funeral will take place at 10 o’clock in the morning on October 5th, 2023, at River Hills Baptist Church in Calallen and the burial will take place at the Center Point Cemetery on Saturday, October 14th at 11 o’clock in the morning in Center Point, Texas.