Caylyn Renae Newby, the daughter of Heath and Amanda Jo Newby, was born September 13, 2005 at Texas County Memorial Hospital. She entered into the arms of Jesus on November 19, 2021, following a tragic vehicle accident, at the age of 16.
In her Bible, Caylyn has highlighted the verse Exodus 3:14, “God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM…” and Caylyn was unapologetically who she was. Somewhere along the way, Caylyn earned the nickname of “Lucy”, and was most commonly known around her house as Lucy, Luce, or Lucious. She was content to do just about anything. She loved to hunt with her dad and brother, drive the dogs around in the buggy, play with the dogs, ride horses, or help grandpa in the shop. She was also content to lounge around the house, watching something on Netflix or something she’d recorded on the DVR, often without her implant, on, just reading the closed captions. Caylyn was notoriously not much of a morning person, as anyone who was around her in the morning could attest. She would get up, but she wasn’t always happy about it. She once told her Uncle Matt to go ahead and get her up in the morning to help feed cows, that she was going to be mad, but that’s okay. Once she had breakfast, though, which generally consisted of a Twix or Hundred Grand and Dr. Pepper, she was ready to tackle the day, whatever it might bring.
Throughout her life, Caylyn overcame many struggles. At one year of age, she was diagnosed with profound hearing loss in both ears. She received cochlear implants at 18 months and three years old. She never once let her disability slow her down. Through surgeries, doctor visits, and therapies, her grit and determination, and oftentimes stubbornness, allowed her to persist and exceed all expectations. Her favorite verse was Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and He strengthened her for her entire life.
Caylyn loved an event and was always preparing for something, and when she set her mind to something, she was determined to be the best. From her first Christmas concert in preschool, to gymnastics recitals, church pageants, speeches, homecoming, or softball games, she was always looking forward to what came next and practicing or studying to make it happen. She was active in several activities and clubs. She was the vice president of the Summersville High School FFA Chapter. Last year, she earned her way to state creed speaking and helped her knowledge team make it to state by winning first place individual in both Area and Districts. She had several SAE projects, and was a meticulous record keeper. She was named as the Star Greenhand last year and won the chapter award in agriculture services placement. She was also very active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and had recently begun leading the lessons for the group each week. She was a member of Beta Club, and had recently just finished writing a speech to present at state convention. Caylyn was a cheerleader and played on the softball team. She spent hour upon hour in the yard, throwing a softball at a sheet of plywood, determined to perfect her strike zone. The highlight of her season was getting to pitch at Mtn. View. She was so delighted to be voted a homecoming candidate last year and had so much fun putting her everything into dressing up for homecoming week and getting dressed up for the court. She danced until the last minute of the homecoming dance, “burning up the floor” according to Caylyn. No matter what she was doing, she wanted everyone she knew to be involved, often inviting friends and family to come watch her.
From an early age, Caylyn loved horses. She started out being led by her dad, but soon graduated to a pony that she named Texas Ranger. She and Texas Ranger went around and around, but most of the time, Caylyn won. She saved her own money and bought an old horse called P.I., or Pete. Caylyn rode Pete wherever she wanted to go, giving him the occasional smack with her whip to make him go. She decided that she would enter the horse shows at Summersville Saddle Club, and very rarely missed one. She entered every class possible: horsemanship, western pleasure, barrel racing, and pole bending. She would decorate Pete with glitter and braids, joking that he was probably humiliated by his decoration. She had recently sold Pete, deciding to give another girl a chance at a starter horse, so she could move up to a faster horse, and was currently sharing a mare with her dad, while trying to convince him to just transfer ownership to her.
Caylyn had a strong work ethic. She was very proud to make her own money and pay her own way, often saying, “No, I’ve got money” when it was offered to her. She worked at Big Creek Trail Ride and for Gina Bryan, cleaning up and reorganizing her shop, and was going to start a job at Wuertley’s Cafe in December. She had also taken care of the cook shack and carried clerk tickets for auctions. With her own money, came a love for shopping. Caylyn enjoyed buying clothes, shoes, makeup, and hair products. She often talked her mom into buying unnecessary things with the excuse of “we can both use it”. Ultimately, though, she spent the majority of her money buying gifts for others. She did not let a family or friend’s birthday go by without at least a soda and candy bar. She would dedicate hours to picking out just the right present for someone or creating a basket of goodies for them. She wanted everyone to feel special and loved.
More than anything, and most importantly, Caylyn had faith like a lion. She believed in a living God who saves souls and she was faithful to serve Him. She was saved at an early age at Big Creek Church and was so excited to be baptized, she could hardly wait. Caylyn never had to be made to go to church; she was more than willing to go “get me some Jesus”. She studied her Bible every day, spending quiet time with her God. Caylyn had a goal written on the markerboard in her room to “Be a Light” and she was. In her car, the radio was tuned to K-love and she loved to sing praise songs. She wanted to take all of her friends to church and make sure that they knew Jesus. Caylyn wanted nothing more than for all her friends and family to accept Jesus as their Savior so they can go to Heaven. She is currently rejoicing with the Savior, hearing, singing on tune and belting out praise songs, breathing easily, with clear skin that doesn’t itch. She wants all of us to join her there someday.
Caylyn was welcomed into heaven by her grandmother Cathy Newby, great-grandparents Clyde and Billy Cook, Laurel and Bernice Newby, Dallas and Beulah Brawley, and Gilbert and Juanita Bradford, and uncles Leonard Newby, Ricky Brawley, and Don Wilson. Those left to mourn her passing and celebrate her life are her parents and brother Cole of the home, and Cole’s girlfriend MaKysha Spencer; grandparents Dennis Newby and special friend Carletta Abbey, Dan and Faye Kyle, and Randy and Cindy Brawley; aunts and uncles Matt and Heather Hill, Jason and Mirium Brawley, Eric and Brooke Brawley, Paul and Amanda Kyle, and Dallas Kyle; great-aunts and uncles Brenda Newby, Denise Wilson, Troy and Linda Bradford, Greg and Susie Snider, Wilbert and Judy Barton, Randy and Linda Kirkman, Keith and Carolyn Cook, Junior and Marlene Brawley, Jimmy and Helen Brawley, Lyle and Linda Barnes, Charlie and Brenda Wuertley, Anita Brawley, and Cheryl Clark. Caylyn had a very special bond with her great-great aunt Marie Bradford. Caylyn has a host of cousins who will miss her: Wyatt Woolsey, Waylon and Haylee Woolsey, Bryleigh, Ashton, and Fynn Brawley, LillyMae Brawley, Wyatt Stricklan, Trevor Kyle, and Marley and Dallas Kyle, Jr. There are so, so many second and third cousins who will miss her, as well. She was a favorite playmate of Jace, Kaden, and West Kirkman, Karen and Kassi Kirkman, Eli and Maverick Brawley, Charlie Summers, and Andy Ramsey. She could often be found on the floor playing the part of bucking bull or horse as the little ones rode her around, using her braids as reins. There are many people who Caylyn considered family and loved them just as if they were. Caylyn also had a huge circle of friends, in all grades. The list of people who will miss our Caylyn could go on and on forever, as she touched lives wherever she went. She was kind to all, and if she placed her favor on you, she was fiercely loyal. We have all been blessed to have known her.
