Wayne Douglas Sylling

Wayne Douglas Sylling b. 1951 d. 2025, age 73 passed away on Sept 12, 2025, in Yakima, WA.

He was preceded in death by both his parents and his brothers Gary and Lyle Sylling and is survived by his wife of 55 years, Trudy (Dekker), his sister Wanda (Fergus), son Eric (Maisy) and grandchildren Audrey, Maggie, and Alex and daughter Pamela (Craig) and grandchildren Hunter (Mikayla) and Carter (Emma).

Wayne was born in Yakima, WA to Norman and Hazel Sylling (Gorman) and grew up in Buena, WA, graduating from Zillah High School in 1970.  Following high school, Wayne joined the U.S. Airforce and proudly served for 4 years in active service and 10 years in the reserves. 

Wayne met the love of his life, Trudy, while in high school and they were married on Dec. 26, 1970, at the Zillah Christian Reformed Church, where Wayne was an active member and he served as both an elder and deacon numerous times.

Following his honorable discharge from the Airforce, Wayne attended Yakima Valley Community College and Washington State University, Pullman, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education. 

Wayne started his teaching career at Sunnyside High School in 1979, where he taught and was an FFA advisor for 15 years. Starting in 1993, Wayne started and established an agriculture program at Sunnyside Christian High School, where he continued to teach for 24 years until his retirement in 2017.  As a teacher and FFA advisor at both schools, Wayne had a positive influence on numerous students and families and will be remembered for his countless hours advising kids on projects, teaching them skills like welding, taking them livestock judging all over Eastern Washington as well as playing key roles at both the Toppenish Livestock show and the Yakima Valley Fair & Rodeo in Grandview, WA for many decades.

While Wayne’s day job was teaching, his true passion was always farming.  As a young man he raised sheep and worked on the family farm in Zillah and not long after starting his teaching career he purchased a farm on Dekker Road in Outlook, WA where he spent the rest of his life farming asparagus, grapes, and corn.  There was never a tractor or piece of equipment that he wasn’t interested in using his skills and imagination to modify.  Or if that wasn’t possible, he would just engineer and build what he needed himself.

Wayne also took unending joy in his kids and grandkids.  He supported and loved their dreams and passions as much as his own.  He never tired of teaching them new skills, and the rides around the farm on tractors and four wheelers were never ending. Camping trips with Oma and Papa at Mt. Rainer were a regular rite of summer when the grandkids were young.  Throughout their life together Wayne and Trudy would always be on the road attending their kids and grandkids’ events and he especially enjoyed years of attending the B basketball tournament in Spokane and taking get aways with the family during the holidays and occasional trips to the Oregon Coast.

In 2015 Wayne was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but he never let it slow him down and he never complained.  Through it all, his faith in God sustained him and his sense of humor and endless curiosity kept his family and friends smiling and laughing.

When asked what his idea of perfect happiness was, Wayne once replied: “Good wife, kids and grandkids who come to visit often, a good dog, no weeds on the farm, time for reclining in a chair under the tree in the back yard and not owing anyone money.”  Wayne’s family is glad to say that Wayne was a happy man.

A viewing for Wayne will be held at Smith Funeral Home in Sunnyside, WA from 4:00 -8:00 PM on Tuesday, Sept. 30th.  His funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, Oct. 1st at Faith Community Church in Zillah, WA with an internment to follow at Zillah Cemetery along with a reception at Faith Community Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Wayne’s memory can be made to the Sunnyside Christian High School Vo-Ag Department Program by sending checks to Sunnyside Christian Elementary, 811 North Ave., Sunnyside, WA 98944 or to the Faith Community Church Audio-Visual Program at Faith Community Church, P.O. Box 229, Zillah, WA 98953. Those wishing to sign Wayne’s online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

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