Alton Ray Pyburn

Alton Ray Pyburn, 93, passed away peacefully at home on Friday morning on February 20, 2026. 

A visitation of family and friends will be held at Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home on Sunday, February 22, 2026, from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026, at the Longworth Cemetery in Fisher County. Burial will follow. Arrangements are under the direction of Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

Alton (Buddy) was born in a farmhouse in Busby, Texas in Fisher County on June 16, 1932 to George Ashel and Jane Frances (Newton) Pyburn. He attended Roby High School, graduating in May 1949, and in the fall of '49 he became an Aggie, attending Texas A&M University for the next four years. While attending A&M, he visited his Aunt Myrtle in Houston who had arranged a blind date for Alton with a lovely girl from Houston, Lou Ann Gallatin. They were married in Houston, Texas on August 30, 1952 and for the next year lived in College Station while Buddy completed his education, graduating in 1953. They lived briefly in Denver, Colorado then lived in Kaiserslautern, Germany for two years while Alton served in the U.S. Air Force. Upon returning to Texas, Alton began his career with the Farmers Home Administration, beginning in Fisher and Jones Counties, then in Wellington, Texas. In 1962, Alton and Lou Ann, and their three children, moved to Sweetwater where he continued with the Farmers Home Administration until his retirement in 1990.

Upon retirement, Alton began what became an obsession by hybridizing and growing acres of irises and daylilies, as well as other flowers, trees and vegetables. He worked long hours in his gardens every day and raised cattle as well on their farm north of town. Alton served his community in various ways. He was a member of Sweetwater Lions Club for 64 years, a charter member of Bitter Creek Water Supply which was created to provide water service to rural areas in Nolan and Fisher County, served 20 years on the Wes-Tex Ground Water Conservation District board, and along with Lou Ann, was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Sweetwater from 1962 until he was no longer able to attend. Alton and Lou Ann spent 67 years together raising children, animals, plants, and grandchildren until her passing in September of 2019.

Alton is survived by daughter Melody Lawrence of San Angelo, son Weston Pyburn and wife Vicki of Sweetwater, daughter Julie Stroman and husband Scott of Sweetwater, grandchildren Rian Freeman, Makai Roberts, Merrit Holmes, Brett Stroman, Aaron Stroman, Cory Stroman, Ashel Pyburn, Jaxon Pyburn, and Holly Hallam; great-grands Reid, Holt, Drew, Addison, Noble, Micah, Madden, Memphis, Linden, Ethan, Alena, Bryson, Kayleigh, Miranda, Gracie, Alton, and Benjamin. He is also survived by his brother, Dwain Pyburn, sister-in-law Becky Pyburn, nieces Lannie and Christy, nephews Mark and Steven.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Jane Pyburn, wife, Lou Ann Pyburn, brother, Doug Pyburn, and sister-in-law, Bobbie Pyburn.

Memorials to Alton Pyburn can be made to Sweetwater Lions Club, 1510 Lamar Street, Sweetwater, Texas, Sweetwater SNAP, 1701 Elm Street, Sweetwater, Texas, Longworth Cemetery, 228 CR 428, Sweetwater, Texas or a charity of one's choice.