Byrne Laflin

Byrne Salem Joseph Laflin passed away peacefully at his home in Spring Branch, Texas on February 21, 2012 after a 3-year battle with cancer. He was 55 years old. Byrne was the third son of Donnell James and Agnes M. Laflin, born on November 7, 1956 in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada. With his father's job, the family traveled and lived in many different countries including Cambodia, Venezuela, and Iran. While in the US, the Laflin family lived in Green Bay, Wisconsin (his father's birthplace) for a few years during Byrne's childhood. He had many fond memories of his adventures there with his two brothers and the neighborhood boys, most notably that they had crawled under a fence at Lambeau Field, sneaking in to watch the Green Bay Packers practice. Everyone who knows Byrne is aware of his deep loyalty to "The Pack." During his high school years he lived with his father who was then working in Tehran, Iran. Those years of "hanging out with Dad" were cherished memories for Byrne. When they moved back stateside, the family settled in Arizona, where Byrne graduated from Marcos de Niza High School. His journey into the pavement industry began when he was a young adult working on road crews for Saguaro Paving; he then worked his way into sales. In 1980 he married, and became a father when Shane Colter Laflin was born in July 1981. In the early eighties he went to work for Industrial Asphalt and became an asphalt plant manager. Byrne met Doreen, his "Irish Red" in 1984, and they married in 1985. Son Colin James Laflin was born in May 1986. In 1988, Byrne accepted a company transfer to Texas where his growing family settled in Arlington. Then in July 1991, son Nelson Leonard Laflin was born. In 1998, Byrne accepted a job offer from trusted customer Pavecon, Inc. His many years of experience in the industry coupled with his life's adventures and meeting people all over the world made him a standout salesman. Pavecon's owner recognized Byrne's unmatched loyalty, leadership, and continual willingness to help others, and offered him a promotion to head-up a new division of the company in 2003. For two years, Byrne traveled from Arlington to Austin, TX every Monday; then back home to Arlington each Friday night. In 2005, Doreen and Nelson joined him, moving to Spring Branch when Nelson entered high school. Shane had already graduated Cum Laude from UT-Arlington, and was on the staff of the UT Women's Basketball program in Austin. Colin was attending college at UNT in Denton, TX. Though his maturing sons were working, and attending college across Texas, the family's favorite times were when all five of them were together in their hill country home. Byrne possessed the uncanny ability to see the positive in any situation and also in people. He managed his division of Pavecon as if his employees were family; those who responded in kind have become longtime loyal employees. Ever unselfish, Byrne delighted in others' successes. Byrne learned to golf at a young age and loved the game whether playing it, or watching it. Those who have golfed with him know of his powerful drives, his swing once called "The Gorilla" by a fellow golfer. Byrne's love of the outdoors extended from golf to anything and everything done outside. At home on weekends, he'd often go out to his hammock with his iPod where he'd relax for hours listening to Jimmy Buffet, and many classic rock artists. On nice, sunny days he enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson, or driving around in his 1984 Jeep. The journey that Byrne and Doreen had begun together in 1985 took an unexpected and unwanted path in 2009 when the cancer was diagnosed. Nelson was preparing to graduate high school and go off to college at Texas State University. So Byrne, with Doreen by his side, spent many days and nights at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Just after Christmas 2011, while in the hospital at MD Anderson, his oncologist brought the news that Byrne's cancer had reached an untreatable point. All three of his sons had been there with him and Doreen; and he told each of them, "You boys stick together, and you take care of your mom." After 40 days in the hospital, he returned home to spend his final days under the watchful, loving care of eldest son Shane and Doreen, with weekly visits from Colin and Nelson whenever work and school allowed. Into his final days, Byrne continued to exhibit the kindness, patience, dedication, and love that defined his life. Byrne is survived by his beloved wife, Doreen; and their three sons who brought him endless pride: Shane, Colin, and Nelson; his mother Agnes M. Laflin; brother Donnell James Laflin; brother Sean Leonard Laflin; sister Nora Lee Laflin; sister-in-law (Don's wife) Arla Laflin; and their three children Jessica, Hannah and Cody. Byrne is now reunited with his father Donnell James (Lefty) Laflin, who passed in 1995. A reception for family and friends will follow the service on the church premises. Those who'd like to send flowers, please instead consider a donation to one of the following cancer research foundations: http://www.mdanderson.org/how-you-can-help/index.html http://livestrong.org/Donate http://www.jimmyv.org/