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Dedications to the Life of Van Allen Wylie
Obituary in "This Week in Texas"
Van Allan Wylie, 39, passed away in his sleep at his residence in Dallas on Saturday, November 13, 1999. Van was born on April 26, 1960 in Waxahachie to James E. and Harriet Dean Wylie. He graduated from Waxahachie High School in 1978, and received a degree in fine arts from the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver in 1992.
His works have traditionally conveyed a depth and intimacy of light-filled landscapes, striving to reflect a certain moment in time, one he wanted to share with others. His gifts of wisdom and vision, captured in his paintings and poetry, will help to keep him alive in our hearts throughout our lives.
Van is survived by his life partner, John Miller, his mother, Harriet, his brother, Dean, his sister, Jamie, and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his father.
Van's life-long struggle against diabetes and a worsening heart condition is over, but his artistic work has just begun. Now he is painting on God's greatest canvasses, painting sunsets, fields of multi-colored flowers, and the beauty of the changing seasons. Van was an earthly angel to everyone he ever met, and now he is a heavenly angel who is at peace in God's hands.
Published in "This Week In Texas" (Volume 25, Number 33)
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Van's Graduation Picture from Art School
Still building...need to add details on Van's art school |
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Obituary in Waxahachie Newspaper
Mr. Wylie, age 39, passed away at his residence in Dallas Saturday morning. Van was born in Waxahachie to James E. and Harriet Dean Wylie. He graduated from Waxahachie High School in 1978 and received his B.A. from the Rocky Mountain Art and Design College, Denver, Colorado, in 1992. Van was a resident of the Denver area, employed with the Reiss Gallery of Fine Arts, until moving back to the Waxahachie area in 1998 where he was employed with Asel's Art of Dallas. He was a member of the Ellis County Art Association and several art associations in the Denver and Dallas areas. Van lost a lifelong battle with diabetes.
Van's traditional artistic style conveys a depth and intimacy of light-filled landscapes. His work strives to reflect a certain moment in time, a moment he wants to share with others. Each canvass is the expression of his inner visions, personal inspirations, and sensitivity to people and life around him.
He is survived by his mother, Harriet Wylie; one brother, Dean E. Wylie and his wife and children, Lauren, Jennifer Rodriguez, James D. and Eveanna Wylie; one sister, Jamie Wylie Esselman and her husband Bill, all of Waxahachie; close friend, John Miller of Dallas; numerous aunts, uncles and friends. He was preceded in death by his father.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 6-8pm, Monday at the Wayne Boze Funeral Home. The Celebration of Life will be 2pm, Tuesday, November 16, at the Pat Boze Memorial Chapel with Dr. Leroy Fenton officiating. Interment will follow at the Waxahachie City Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.
Published in the "Waxahachie Daily Light", Monday, November 15th
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Dedication of "Gone to Paint God's Landscapes"
I wrote the poem "Gone To Paint God's Landscapes" days after Van's death. The title of this poem is inscribed on his headstone. The poem is scheduled for publication in the 2000 National Anthology of the International Society of Poets entitled "Treasures of Imagination". The anthology is due to be released in the Fall of 2000. The following dedication was written to accompany the poem:
"This poem was written in dedication to my life partner and soul-mate, Van Allen Wylie. After suffering for 30 years with diabetes, worsened by deteriorating kidneys and a heart condition, Van died of a heart attack at the age of 39 on November 13, 1999. His mother had this poem's title engraved on his headstone. A gifted artist and devoutly religious man, his usual subjects were landscapes, attempting to capture some of God's most beautiful creations. I know he is now a heavenly angel. The allusions in this poem are a reflection of his artistry, his faith, and my love."
"Gone to Paint God's Landscapes"
by John Miller
Tell me, my love, where have you gone?
Tell me, my love, what are you doing?
I see you painting lazy sunsets,
In sleepy shades of purples and pinks.
With the wings of an angel, you touch autumn's breath
In brilliant oranges, yellows, browns and rust.
I loved the rainbow you painted celebrating the rain-soaked earth.
Tell me, my love, why did you leave?
You had just started to paint our life together.
You touched my heart with pastels of love,
You painted a home in gentle colors that whisper your name.
Now I need your loving hand to paint the tears away.
Take care, my angel, and speak to me with the brush He's given you.
Paint me a yellow sunrise that wakes me gently
Paint me green rolling hills that remind me of God's glory
Paint me a winter in glorious shades of white
Paint a rose for me in the most brilliant of reds
Now that you've gone to paint God's landscapes...
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"Someone Like You" - A Song Dedicated to Van
by Shawn Colvin (from "One Fine Day" soundtrack)
I've been searching for a long time,
For someone exactly like you.
I've been travelling all around the world
Waiting for you to come through.
Someone like you, to make it all worthwhile,
Someone like you, to keep me satisfied,
Someone exactly like you.
See, I've been travelling a hard road,
Looking for someone exactly like you.
I've been carrying my heavy load,
Waiting for the light to come shining through.
Someone like you, to make it all worthwhile,
Someone like you, to keep me satisfied.
Someone exactly like you.
I've been doing some soul-searching,
To find out where you're at.
I've been up and down this highway,
And all kinds of foreign lands.
Someone like you, to make it all worthwhile,
Someone like you, to keep me satisfied.
I have been all around the world,
Marching to the beat of a different drum.
But, my baby, I have realized,
The best is yet to come.
Someone like you, to make it all worthwhile,
Someone like you, to keep me satisfied,
Someone exactly like you.
Exactly like, exactly like,
Just exactly like you,
Someone exactly like you.
Someone exactly like you.
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