Carlos Preston Salyer, 69, of Elizabethton, passed away Saturday, January 26, 2019, at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center.
A native of Appalachia, Va., he was a son of the late Rev. Homer C. and Iona Eads Salyer.
Carlos was a graduate of Unaka High School. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam Era and was serving on the USS Hornet when he helped pull the Apollo Space Craft out of the ocean. Carlos was a teacher, minister and correctional officer. He received his Undergraduate Degree from East Tennessee State University, his Master’s Degree in Divinity from Wake Forest University and his Ph.D. Degree in Theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He had pastored Riverview Baptist Church and Zion Baptist Church, both of Elizabethton, Honaker First Baptist Church, Honaker, Va., and Boissevain First Baptist Church, Boissevain, Va. He taught school at Hunter, Unaka, Range, and Midway Elementary Schools. He was a member of Victory Baptist Church, Johnson City.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Roy Salyer.
Survivors include his children, Chad Salyer (Michelle), Elizabethton, Crissy Skeen (Andrew), Blountville, Cari Salyer, Church Hill, and Cory Salyer (Dani), Ann Arbor, Mich.; five grandchildren, Chelsea Williams, Mindy Salyer, Nicolette Skeen, Delaney Rogers and Ryker Chapman; his siblings, Brenda Howell (Jackie), Janice Estep, Vera West and LaDonnia Proffitt (Jerry), all of Elizabethton, and Desler Salyer, Kingsport; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services for Carlos Preston Salyer will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 30, at Mountain Home National Cemetery with Chaplain Manis officiating. Pallbearers will be nephews. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the staff of Community Living Center, James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. Military Honors will be provided by the Carter County Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Carlos to Riverview Baptist Church, 1419 Broad Street Ext., Elizabethton, TN 37643. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Family and friends will assemble at the cemetery at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website, www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Salyer family.