John Saylor, 87, 17319 Rte 68, Sligo PA, passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024, at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.
He was born on August 29, 1936 in Churchville.
He was the son of John M. and Clara (Deitz) Saylor.
John married Ermagean Byers on August 24, 1956; she predeceased him on February 19, 2016.
He worked for 17 years as a machine operator at the former Owens Illinois Glass Plant in Clarion, retiring in 1972.
John and Ermagean founded Saylors Farm in the early 1960s to grow strawberries.
As the first strawberry farm in Clarion County, John designed and built most of the machinery and equipment used to maintain the farm.
The business became a popular employment opportunity for local youth, offering them the chance to earn extra money.
The company later expanded to include the cultivation of other crops and the production of agricultural wood products.
Although he tried his hand at a handful of different jobs, John was most proud of his strawberry farm.
He was a member of the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers and served on the Agway and the Soil Conservation District committee in 1970.
In his free time, he enjoyed playing music on his guitar and harmonica, taking photographs, doing hydroponic research, roller skating and drawing in his younger years, playing music at the nursing home, and spending time with his family and friends.
He also held an amateur radio license and was a radio amateur.
John is survived by one son, Mark J. Saylor (Beth), of Sligo; five daughters, Brenda J. Over (Jerry), of Reidsburg, Rita Smith (Chris Wolf), of Sligo, Regina Westover (David), of Fairmount City, Teresa Jo Anderson (Brian), of New Bethlehem, and Lisa L. Remmick (John), of Sligo; and 16 grandchildren, Jonathan, Joshua and Johanna Over, Maria Popolis (Jordan), Wesley Smith, Angela Winchester, Claire and Adam Saylor, Rachael and Zachary Westover, Corbin Anderson (Kayla), Jordan Anderson (Mariah), Noah and Olivia Anderson, Jay Remmick and Ethan Remmick (Laryssa).
He also leaves behind four great-grandchildren: two sisters, Jane Aites and Pearl Seybert of Rimersburg, and a brother, Fred Saylor of Florida.
John was preceded in death by his parents, his little triplet sisters, his brother Frank Saylor, his granddaughter Leah Remmick and his son-in-law Danny Smith.
John’s family will receive friends on Thursday, August 15, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Varner Funeral Home in Sligo.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Cornerstone Church of Clarion in Shippenville, PA with Pastor Randy Spencer officiating.
The urn burial will then take place at Reidsburg Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at https://www.Varnerfuneralhome.com.
