Roll Call Tribute

Grimes Funeral Chapels obituary

Thomas Condell Syfan

Born:   July 3, 1924 in Corpus Christi, TX
Departed:   August 10, 2013
Residence:  Mountain Home, TX
Service Date:  August 13, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Service Location:  St. Peter's Episcopal Church 

Thomas Condell Syfan, 89, of Mt. Home, Texas, passed away on August 10, 2013. He was born in Corpus Christi, Texas to Leticia Helen Edwards Syfan and Rollins Campbell Syfan on July 3, 1924. He married Meta Flora Real on September 11, 1948, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Kerrville. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio. All his childhood summers were spent riding horses and swimming under the cypress trees at Pleasure Hill, his grandfather's place on the Guadalupe River between Ingram and Hunt. Tom attended Tarleton Junior College and Texas A & M University where he won many swimming competitions and was named Southwest Conference High Point Man of the Year. In 1945, he began ranching on Schulze Family land with Felix Real, Sr., Felix Real, Jr. and Felix Fisher. In 1956, he began ranching the 3 Mill Ranch at Mountain Home. His ranching career ended only when he died. He was also a real estate broker and found joy in finding ranches for others.

Throughout his life, Tom was passionate about his ranchland, relentlessly restoring, preserving, and improving it. His ability to train stock and hunting dogs, particularly retrievers was well known and he generously shared this gift with others. His love of history extended to the preservation of many historic buildings. As a ranchman he was never satisfied with the quality of his stock, always improving his herds and flocks and was well known for his all black herd of Spanish goats. He always encouraged his hunters to improve the quality of the game.

Throughout his life, Tom gave freely of his time and resources and was a member and often an officer of many organizations including the Hill Country District Junior Livestock Show (Director), the American Kennel Club, the United Kennel Club, the Alamo Retriever Club, the North American Sheep Dog Society, the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers' Association, and the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Assocation. He was superintendent of the Sunday School and served on the Vestry of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Kerrville for many years. He pursued his passions with such success that he was often recognized for his achievements. His many awards included the 1965 Ford Farm Efficiency Award in Sheep Raising. In 1988 in recognition of his outstanding and unselfish leadership, he was named the Kerr County Citizen of the Year.

Tom was preceded in death by his sister, Helen Syfan Laird, and his brothers Rollins and Frank Syfan. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Meta Flora Real Syfan, his daughters, Cynthia and her husband, Bruce F. Rieck, Kathleen and her husband William H. Cowden, Jr., and Sarah and her husband, David Dean. He is also survived by his sister, Lillian Syfan Cox, and his brother, Bernard Syfan. Tom and Meta have been blessed with nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren: James Thomas Syfan Rieck, his wife Laura, and their children, Bryce and Georgia, Robert Brian Syfan Rieck, his wife Jennifer, and their daughter, Grace Ann, Meta Helen Edwards Real Rieck, Courtney Cowden Mitchell, her husband Jimmy, and their children Weston and Jalynn, Cody Cowden, Morgan Frederick, Amy Frederick, Justin Mayer and their son, Griffin, and Clayton Frederick.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, August 13th at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Kerrville with Reverend Stockton Williams, Jr. officiating. Pallbearers are Bruce F. Rieck, William H. Cowden, Jr., David Dean, James Thomas (JT) Rieck, Robert S. Rieck, Cody Cowden, and Clayton Frederick. Honorary Pallbearers are Bernard Syfan, Felix Real, Jr., Jack Stevens, Charles Laird, Jimmy Mitchell, Justin Mayers, Tuffy Cowden, Mackey Lange, Mike Lange, Jim Haynie, Dub Haney, Roy Johnson, Ed Warren, and Isidro Sanchez.

Memorials to St. Peter's Church, the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers' Association, the Kerr County Livestock Association, or any charity will be appreciated by the family.