John Tillman Hyland

John Tillman Hyland breathed his last on August 7, 2020 (February 1, 1967 – August 7, 2020). Born in San Diego, CA and living in Longs, SC his spirit is carried on by his wife Denise, his brothers Bill and Charles, sisters-in-law Zoe and Rosa, his Niece Madison, Nephew Walker, Nephew Chase, Nephew Christian, and Nephew Reyn, his father William, and his mother-in-law Rose. And an extended family of relations and friends too numerous to list but not forgotten.

He is reunited with his mom Jonnie and Nephew Braedon smiling, laughing and taking care of us all. John is a fantastic cook so they will be happy to see him. Oh, and he will probably have bags and bags of Sour Patch Big Kids to share.

His father was a pilot in the Navy, so I heard stories of all the places he and his family lived growing up from Florida to Nova Scotia, where he became a fan of the Montreal Canadiens, to San Diego. John was also a Dallas Cowboys fan. He was a fantastic soccer player and cross-country runner for Valhalla High School in CA and Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, SC and even ran cross country at Appalachian State University. John was a passionate runner at a young age often running home 6 miles to beat the school bus home. He took me to San Diego to show me where his brothers ran and played and fought with each other as the Hyland boys.

John’s first and probably most favorite ‘job’ he had was at Sea World fixing things and running the remote-control boats. He would always give away quarters so people could keep enjoying them and still even has his name tag from there. He also described himself as being a ‘ski bum’ in Park City, UT where he worked at a ski resort. John even worked on a crab boat on the Bering Sea in Alaska. When he was a flight attendant unsurprisingly John received numerous thank you letters for his kindness. He loved being outdoors whether working on a golf course or hanging out on the beach all day with his brothers and friends. We had many epic hikes, drives, camping trips and adventures together. He created a beautiful yard for us where I can breathe in his love every day.

I know my husband as a man of immense generosity and kindness and all animals on this planet approved him without reservation. I always wondered if all our food would be given away to someone who needed it more than us, or all our clothes would be keeping someone else warm, or even if we would have a new animal living with us. Those who have taken his lessons to heart will always help anyone struggling to get their kids and shopping cart across the parking lot or provide a cold drink to the maintenance worker at your home. John teased you, made you laugh no matter who you were - family, friend or stranger. John was there for you through deaths of loved ones, through divorces or breakups, through sicknesses and surgeries. Any of life’s challenges, John was there to lend a helping hand, check in or just be there to listen. He also loved to go see his friends wherever they were: playing music, at their restaurant, at their store, at their kids’ games.

My friend shared this with me

‘Words seem so feeble in moments like these. Life is so precious, and death such thief…Love is a bond that death cannot part. Gone from your arms but still held in your heart’. John Mark Green

A Celebration of John’s Life is being planned for a later date where we will share our stories of John and have lots of cries and laughs. Instead of flowers do as John would, unexpected and unsolicited acts of kindness.

“Find Your Piece Of Peace Today” John Tillman Hyland