Travis Quinton Lyday died February 15, 2022 at home in Reform, AL. He had been diagnosed with Covid-19. Travis was born in Memphis, TN, October 20, 1945. He was preceded in death by his parent Dorothy Collins and Col. Charles Vieman Lyday. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Ann (Blakney), his brother Col. Carl V. Lyday (Susan), his daughters Pamela Carol Callais (Christopher) and Rebecca Ann Lyday, and four grandchildren David James Sherman, Jr., Crystal Sutphin Kidwell (Jonathan) of Gainsville, VA, Thomas Roger Paquette (Viktorija) of Louisville, KY, and Cassandra Chittenden (Thomas James) of Wilmington, NC and two great-grandchildren (Thomas, and Quentin) and nephew Brent and niece Shannon and many cousins. A memorial service will be at Reform First United Methodist Church Sunday March 6 at 3 pm.
Travis spent his early years in Germany where he sledded and learned to speak German. His father was family moved to Kansas, New York, Okinawa (Japan), Illinois, and North Carolina. Travis entered Colorado School and Mines and transferred after one year to the University of Alabama, where he graduated in 1968 a B.S. in Geology and a commission as a Lieutenant into the Army. That year he also married his classmate Phyllis Ann.
He was trained at Fort McClellan as a Chemical Officer and was stationed at Fort Huachuca, where his Grandfather Everett Collins traveled by horseback to inspect the fort. After two years as the Chemical Training Officer his was sent to Viet Nam as the Chemical Officer of the 26 Chemical Division attached to the 1st Air Cavalry Division (1st Cav Div).
His decorations, medal, badges, commendation, citations and campaign ribbons awarded are: NDSM - National Defense Service Medal; VSM - Vietnam Service Medal; AM- Air Medal (2nd thru 7th award) Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight; ACB-Air Combat Badge; RVNCM- Republic Vietnam Campaign Medal; BSM - (2) Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious achievement in Ground Operations against hostile forces; ARCOM - Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious achievement.
Upon return to civilian life he entered the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and graduated with a Masters in Geology. Upon graduation, he went to work for the U.S. Bureau of Mines in Pittsburgh, PA. He transferred to the Washington, DC office in 1978 and was transferred to the U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Information Division, when the Bureau was not funded in 1996.
He served in the U.S. Geological Survey as a County Specialist for South American countries where he traveled to visit mines and offshore oil wells and then as a specialist for Australia and Oceania, where he visited mines. As part of his job, he wrote chapters in the publications called Minerals Yearbook, which has been published by the U.S. Department of the Interior since 1891. He was a 25 year member of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration and served as the Economic Subchapter's Treasurer for many years.
He was active in the Sons of the Army of the Revolution (SAR) where he was Treasurer, Registrar (helped research people who wanted to join the SAR), and was Editor of the Culpepper Minuteman Chapter newsletter for several years. He joined the Confederate Veterans Sons (CVS). He was awarded the Virginia State Southern Cross by the United Daughters of the Confederacy for his service in Viet Nam. He was a devoted member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Manassas, VA, one of the oldest churches in North America, while living in Virginia. He was a soccer coach for his two girls' soccer league and also a co-leader for their Girl Scout Troop; one year serving as Cookie Mother.
He moved back to Alabama in 2009 to his wives' family home and joined the United Methodist Church of Reform. He enjoyed music and travel. Instead of flowers, donations should be made in his memory to the United Methodist Church, 807 3rd St NE, Reform, Alabama 35481; or to the University of Alabama, Emerson Ward and Preston Comer Blakney Scholarship Fund, Office of Planned Giving, PO Box 8701223, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 that benefits students from Pickens County. Interment will be at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, at 2:15 pm on Thursday April 28 where his Grandfather Col. Everett Collins served as the Commandant of the Arsenal and is buried along with his wife, Mother, daughter and her husband.