Lynda Naylor

Lynda Sue (Richardson) Naylor embarked on her next journey at 2:15 p.m. on August 12, 2021, at her home on Monkey Island following a brief illness.  Sue was born August 6, 1942, or so she believed until later in life learning her actual birthday was August 21, 1942.  Sue’s daughter and granddaughter celebrated both dates annually with cards and gifts, much to Sue’s delight.

Sue was born in Snyder, Oklahoma, the eldest child of Barton and Della Mae (Benton) Richardson.  She attended public schools in Wichita Falls, Texas, where she met and married Jack Caughern Naylor on December 20, 1962.  Their union was blessed by two daughters, Teresa Naconne (Nikki) Naylor Bayne and Jacqueline Christina (Kristi) Naylor.  Sue was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, and daughter Kristi, and brother Sir Edward James Benton Richardson, known affectionately by the family as Cousin Eddie.  She is survived by daughter Nikki of Longview, Texas, and granddaughter, Jacqueline Taylor Bayne of Dallas, Texas.

In the early years of their marriage, Sue was a busy wife and mother, moving from Wichita Falls to Lawrence, KS, and ultimately to Miami, OK as Jack’s career flourished. She later became branch manager at Douglas County State Bank in Lawrence, KS.  Prior to Jack retiring from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Miami, Jack and Sue had settled on Monkey Island at Grand Lake.

Sue became the director of the Shangri-La Resort recreation center and owned and operated a watersports rental and charter service, TaylorMade Yacht Charters, named after her beloved granddaughter.

Sue was a gifted athlete and watersports enthusiast, even participating with the Cypress Gardens Ski performers.  She led the recreation and sports division of Shangri-La Resort, coordinating recreation events for conventions.

Sue was a champion of young Shangri-La employees, teaching them the important disciplines of the hospitality business and that a client’s satisfaction and lasting memories at Shangri-La should be their first priority. Among her many accomplishments at Shangri-La was the large clientele she developed who returned year after year for corporate and family events, including boating, waterskiing, tubing, jetskiing, fishing, parasailing, tennis, and sailing.

Sue held the distinction of being the only licensed female Coast Guard captain on Grand Lake, and she mentored many future boat captains.  But more important than her many professional achievements, Sue was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and important member of the Monkey Island community, contributing generously to local causes.  She was a loyal friend and loved a get-together, where she regularly beat and often chided “the Island girls” at their regular card games if they were not following the rules “according to Hoyle.”

Sue wore many hats, and was known by many names:  Captain Naylor, Captain Snaylor, Snoozette, Snoozie.  Her stories were legendary, and the number of people that called her friend ranged from Mickey Mantle to Sam Walton.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m, Friday, August 20, 2021 at the Shangri La Resort 57301 E OK-125, Afton, OK 74331.  Graveside services will follow at Heavener Cemetery in Heavener, OK.  Services are under the direction of Worley Luginbuel in Grove, Oklahoma.  A celebration of Sue’s life will be held Saturday, August 21st from 4:00-6:00 PM at the Shebang Restaurant on Monkey Island.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory to the American Lung Association at its website at www.lung.org.