On Monday, March 27, 2017, Meredith Wayne Doyle, Jr. stepped into the glory of heaven to meet His Savior face-to-face, as his family gathered at his bedside in League City, Texas, to be there for him as he had always been there for them. A man of great faith, Wayne Doyle lived his life in an attitude of worship, and his family has no doubt that God reserved a special place for Wayne in Heaven’s choir.

Wayne Doyle was born on December 17, 1941, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, to Mattie Reece and Meredith Wayne Doyle, Sr. At 18 years of age, he dressed in his best suit and hitchhiked to Texas to attend Baylor University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis on voice and a Master of Church Music degree. While attending Baylor, Wayne met and married the love of his life Marsha Frances Johnson. Together they shared life for over 52 years.

Wayne’s love of education did not cease upon graduation. He held a permanent, all-level teaching certificate for the State of Texas, earned an insurance license, met the qualifications of certified purchasing manager, and tutored his grandchildren. His employment travels gave Wayne the opportunity to broaden his cultural knowledge in places like Somalia, where he spent 18 months in the Embassy Compound when Adid was in power. However, Wayne’s favorite study subject was the Lord. He was a member of Hugh Ross’ “Reasons to Believe” in Houston and faithfully attended their monthly meetings.

On April 15, 2010, Wayne’s studying was interrupted by a massive debilitating stroke, which left him with severe expressive aphasia and confined to a wheelchair, unable to talk or walk. God spared his mind, hearing, and ability to read, though, and Wayne did not allow a stroke to stop him from pursuing his favorite subject. From television programming about the Holy Land to inspired televised sermons by Dr. Charles Stanley, Dr. John Morgan, Dr. David Jeremiah, Dr. Adrian Rogers and Dr. Ed Young, Wayne found a way to keep his mind sharp and increase his stature of Biblical knowledge.

Mr. Doyle spent a lifetime sharing his gifts and love of music with the Galveston County community, both as a teacher and as a music minister. He began his career in education at the middle and junior high levels with Texas City ISD. Later as music supervisor for La Marque ISD, Wayne took a hands-on approach traveling to all the campuses to further the district’s entire music program. Prior to that, as director of the La Marque High School choir program, Wayne led his students to garner numerous awards. He also spent periods of his life serving as Minister of Music at First Baptist Church of La Marque, First Baptist Church of Dickinson, and First Baptist Church of Arcadia. While at First Baptist Church of Texas City, Wayne served as a deacon, directed the handbell choir, sang in the adult choir, and often substituted in the Minister of Music’s absence. No matter where God placed him, Wayne was deeply loved by so many of his students and the congregations he served. Many lives were touched by Wayne through the years with his gift of teaching, ministry and dry wit. God used Wayne to feed people spiritually, as He inspired Wayne to bring out the emotion of a piece and the theology of its lyrics.

One cannot speak of Wayne Doyle without mentioning his lifestyle of worship. He noticed God’s handiwork in everyday living and found many venues and opportunities for expressing his love for the Savior beyond the walls of the church building. Even from his wheelchair in later years when he was separated from congregational worship and the joys of choral music, Wayne kept his perspective that worship remained as it had always been…for an audience of one, the Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Wayne may not have been able to speak, but His voice was heard by the Lord every day without fail.

Preceded in death by his daughter, Angela Sue Doyle, and his parents, Wayne Doyle is survived by his loving wife Marsha Doyle; four children: Michelle Hill, Matthew Doyle, David Doyle and his wife Heather Doyle, and John Doyle; seven grandchildren: Blake Franks, Jacob Franks, Meredith Layne Doyle, Shelby Hill, Joshua Hill, Olivianna Doyle and Joshua Doyle; his sister-in-law Judy Johnson, and numerous friends and former students.

A celebration of Wayne’s life and His Savior will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2017, at Sagemont Church’s Legacy Chapel, 11300 Sam Houston Parkway South, Houston, TX, 77089. The service will be officiated by Pastor John Mark Benson and Jerry Esmond. Arrangements are being made by Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque, Texas.

In lieu of flowers and in order for the joy of music to bloom in the lives of deserving college-bound musicians, the family requests that donations be made to the “In Remembrance of Wayne Doyle Scholarship Fund” Dickinson ISD Education Foundation, 2218 FM 517 East, Dickinson, TX 77539.

It has been said that music happens where heaven touches earth, and we suspect it will improve now that Wayne joined heaven.