Thomas Carter Galyon

Thomas Carter Galyon, 71, of Rogers, AR passed away at Circle of Life in Springdale on Wednesday, November 22, 2017, surrounded by family.

He was born August 10, 1946 in Abingdon, Virginia to the late Virginia Biggers and Fred Jasper Galyon.  Tom was a graduate of Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virginia. He spent over 33 years as the CEO of Convention and Visitors Bureau in Virginia, Kentucky, Michigan, Texas, and Arkansas. 

After retiring in 2011, he realized he would better serve the community by working.  So, he went back to work as a consultant for The Jones Trust in Arkansas.  Soon after, Tom became the full-time property manager at the Center for Non-Profit.

While living in Arkansas, Tom was a member and elected an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Rogers.

In 2014, Tom was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and became an advocate for the ALS Association of Arkansas.  He did not let the disease define him and spent his final years working to bring awareness to the disease.  In fact, by his request his brain and spinal cord were donated to The Brain Bank of Miami, FL to help find a cure for ALS.

Tom brought much joy into the lives of those who crossed his path.  He was a warrior, a hero, a servant leader, an entrepreneur, and an incredible husband, dad, Papa G, and friend to all.  Lives were forever changed by those who met him.

Survived to cherish his memories are his beloved wife of 44 years, Sally Armstrong; his son, Addison Carter and daughter in law, Mary Flynn of Hampshire, IL; his daughter, Ashley Lyon and partner, Heather Dawn Hart of Rogers, AR; and his grandchildren, Grace Elizabeth and Audrey Flynn Galyon of Hampshire, IL.

Celebration of his life will be at 11:00am, Saturday, November 25, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church of Rogers. The committal of his ashes will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the ALS Association of Arkansas 1200 W Walnut St., Ste 2309, Rogers, AR 72756 or First Presbyterian Church of Rogers 1901 S 26th St, Rogers, AR 72758.

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