David Mayo

David Mayo passed away peacefully surrounded by his kids and other loved ones on August 17, 2025. David was born and raised in Sinton, Texas. As a young boy he enjoyed hunting racoons, working on a local ranch alongside his beloved horse, Jim, and contributing to the family farm—experiences that shaped his lifelong love of agriculture and community.

These adventures took a backseat during his high school years when he met and fell in love with Linda Preston. The couple married in 1964 while attending Texas A&I in Kingsville, where David earned his bachelor's degree in Agriculture Education in 1966. He continued his studies at Texas Tech, graduating with a master's in Agronomy in 1968. Upon graduation, David became an instructor at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, and eventually chairman of the Agriculture Department. It was there that he and Linda forged enduring friendships, while welcoming four children into their family between 1967 and 1972.

In 1973, drawn by family ties, they returned to Sinton, where David and his dad, Clyde Mayo, formed a farming partnership, including land originally settled by his beloved grandfather, James Calvin Mayo. By 1978, the family relocated to a modest two-bedroom, unairconditioned home on farmland outside Robstown, Texas. David, ever the teacher, purchased four sows for his kids to raise, instilling life lessons through hands-on care of pigs, sheep, and cows for 4-H projects. He emphasized the value of hard work—stomping cotton trailers and hoeing weeds in the fields—but also worked to make it fun, like when they would have family walks with the pigs after dinner down the dirt road they lived on. Later, the family moved to Calallen, where farm animals remained a staple of daily life, and where all four children graduated from high school.

That same year, David became the sole proprietor of the operation, farming cotton and grain sorghum across 2,800 acres in Nueces County and 1,000 acres in San Patricio County. He proudly served in numerous organizations, some of which included the Texas Young Farmers Association; serving as a board member and officer of the Nueces County ASCS Committee; board member and officer of the Petronila Grain Coop; and vice president of Planter's Coop in Odem, Texas. In the early 1990s, David was honored to serve as commissioner on the Port of Corpus Christi.

David's world was shattered in 1996 with the loss of his lifelong love, Linda, after her decade-long battle with breast cancer. Yet, he continued to farm while cherishing time with his children, grandchildren, and, in recent years, great-grandchildren. David enjoyed fishing, savoring raw oysters at Water Street, and rallying friends and family for spirited games of 42. Above all, David will be remembered for his deep love for his family, his hard work, integrity, generosity, as well as his heartfelt admonition to "be careful" whenever a loved one set out on the road—a simple phrase that reminded his kids and grandkids that he loved them so much.

David Mayo was a devoted and loving husband, dad, GB, brother, and friend.

David is preceded in death by his wife of 32 years, Linda, his brother, Clyde Mayo, and his parents, Clyde and Velma Mayo. He is survived by his sister, Judy Mayo, his four children, Brenda (Burl) Hagler, Donna (Mike) Freeman, Patricia (Kyle) Livingston, and Kevin (Mary) Mayo as well as his ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Funeral services and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 3:30 pm at Jackson Woods Presbyterian Church, 10500 Stonewall Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX. 

The family will host a public visitation and viewing from 5:00-6:30 pm on Friday, September 5, 2025, at the Sawyer George Funeral Home in Corpus Christi.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to South Plains College Foundation Scholarships at https://southplainscollege.ejoinme.org/

A scholarship fund is being setup at South Plains College in David’s name so please make sure to put his name on the memorial line, or if writing a check on the note line.

Donations may also be made to Tulsa Hills Youth Ranch at www.tulsahillsyouthranch.org.