Jeremy Thorne Saylor, age 51, formerly of Montana City, MT, passed away on July 17, 2025 after a long but courageous battle with cancer.
Born on May 18, 1974, in Choteau, Montana, Thorne was the son of Tim and Barby Saylor. He grew up on the family cattle ranch north of Choteau and loved being a cowboy and a rancher. In 1992, Thorne graduated from Choteau High School and proceeded to proudly serve his country in the U.S. Army.
After his military service, he pursued his passion for aviation and became a commercial airline pilot.
Thorne loved hunting, fishing, being outdoors, cooking, and he especially loved Montana. He will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his family, his kind spirit, and his lifelong love of flying.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Saylor; daughters, Kaitlin (Christian) Muller and Neely Saylor; grandchildren, Carla Muller, Theo Muller, and Henry Saylor-Davis; parents, Tim and Barby Saylor; brother Brett (Joyclynn) Saylor; grandmother, Vangie Scott and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his stepson, Michael Sparks; his grandmother, Marjorie Cannon; grandfathers, Robert Scott, Ted Saylor and Porter Cannon; and uncle, Danny Saylor.
A vigil will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Choteau. Funeral Mass is scheduled for Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 11:00 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and burial with full military honors will immediately follow at the Choteau Cemetery.
A catered reception after the burial will be at the Choteau Country Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local VFW chapter in Thorne’s honor.
The Saylors would like to thank the many great friends and family who provided love and support to Thorne during the final days of his life. Thorne was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.
Service Schedule
Vigil
7:00 p.m.
Wednesday July 23, 2025
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
320 Main Avenue North
Choteau, Montana
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Thursday July 24, 2025
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
320 Main Avenue North
Choteau, Montana
Burial with Military Honors
Immediately following the Funeral Mass
Thursday July 24, 2025
Choteau Cemetery
Choteau, Montana
Reception
Immediately following the burial
Thursday July 24, 2025
Choteau Country Club
Choteau , Montana
Service Schedule
Vigil
7:00 p.m.
Wednesday July 23, 2025
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
320 Main Avenue North
Choteau, Montana
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Thursday July 24, 2025
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
320 Main Avenue North
Choteau, Montana
Burial with Military Honors
Immediately following the Funeral Mass
Thursday July 24, 2025
Choteau Cemetery
Choteau, Montana
Reception
Immediately following the burial
Thursday July 24, 2025
Choteau Country Club
Choteau , Montana
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Don and Barbara Baumgartner says
Sending prayers and caring thoughts to the family.
Wade Ingraham says
To the Saylor family, I am so very sorry for your loss. Thorne and I were good friends when he was here in Helena in the National Guard. I am so sorry to hear of his passing. He was a good man.
David Williams says
A good man from a good family. I am proud to call them friends. As a retired veteran myself, I am very thankful for Thorne’s service to the country, and my prayers go out to the rest of the family.
Mark Lockwood says
I am incredibly blessed to have known Thorne and his family for 22 years. We first met when Thorne was a student of mine at Regional Airline Academy where he pursued his passion for aviation. We became fast friends due to his gregarious personality and love of life. We then served together as volunteers in the pilots’ union at Air Wisconsin Airlines. He gave so much of himself to make all pilots’ careers better. He has touched so many both personally and professionally. We should all be inspired by the life he led and the husband, father and leader that he was. Thanks Thorne for being an important part of my life.
Jerry Hensley says
Dear Saylot family,
Whatsoever soothes your spirit, comforts your soul and brings you peace…that is what is wished for you at this difficult time.
In sympathy,
Jerry and Michelle Hensley
Bob & Janice Parsley says
Our most sincere condolences to Tim, Barby, and the Saylor Family!! So sorry for your loss!!
The Praxels says
Love to the whole Saylor family from Marjorie’s long time family friends in Spokane. Our prayers are with you all.
Jan and Jack Praxel
Kathleen Tesch says
Sending nothing but love your way Tim and Barby. Sympathies to all of Thornes’ family.
John Sparr says
I am sincerely sorry for your loss, I wish I was in Choteau to see you Tim and Barbie 🌹
Joel Barman says
My Condolences to the Saylor family. Thorne and I flew together
At Air Wisconsin and he was also a dedicated union volunteer.
I’ll never forget his kind demeanor and the several times I was
Buying coffee, and he always walked up to the counter and handed the cashier a credit card and said “I have his coffee”
Gone way to soon
Dan Naylor says
Barby and Tim, so sorry to hear about Thorne. Battles in life are so hard, none harder than what you’ve been through. My heart hurts for you!
Jeremy Chase says
We spent a lot of time flight training together in Sanford. Watching his hard work and dedication everyday was the inspiration I needed to stay focused and determined, even during our 4am SIM times. He was such a kind and generous friend to all who knew him. My condolences to the family. 🙏🏻
Eric Caspers says
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Saylor family. I was in the same new hire pilot class at Air Wisconsin. It was a privelage to know Thorne and call him my friend.
My condolences
Sharla Hinman says
To all of Thorne’s family: I am so sorry. Sorry he had to face this battle and you had to bear witness to it. Sorry he is gone too soon and you are now here and he isn’t. In the coming days and nights, when your breath catches and you don’t feel like you can take another, please remember the love, the laughter, all the good memories made and that nothing can take that away.
Jay Wadman says
Sorry to hear about your loss of your son Thorne.
Brent and Kathy Hadley says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Deepest sympathy.
Don & LeeAnn says
Tim and Barby, so sorry to hear about Thorne, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Gene and Linda Sentz says
We share your sadness at the loss of your son. Our sincere condolences to all your family.
Joe Payne says
Very sad to see this. I was also one of his instructors and worked with him at Air Wisconsin. He was a great guy who will be missed by all who knew him.
John Hermannes says
I was very saddened to see this. I flew with Thorne many times at Air Wisconsin. We had many great conversations and I enjoyed his company greatly. Just a great, down to earth guy with a passion for flying and passion for helping others. You’ve earned the golden wings, Thorne, fly west, climb unrestricted! Rest in peace, my friend!
Mandy Sasser Klaus says
Thorne was a wonderful human. Full of kindness and humor. So lucky to be classmates. Sending warm thoughts and heartfelt prayers to the Saylor family.
Aaron Kelley says
I do not always know why things happen the way they do, but Thorne randomly came to mind the other day. I have probably not spoke with him in 20 years, but googled his name to see what came up and was crushed to see this. I was the only Air Force guy stationed with the Montana National Guard at Camp Doha Kuwait back in 2001. Thorne and several other people took me under their wings as if I was one of them. I traveled to Qatar with several of them to have a little R&R and party, and we would hang out often. After I returned to the states, I kept in touch with several of them to include Thorne. He invited me out to Helene to stay with him for a week and he showed me what Montana was all about. He took me flying and let me give it a shot (I was “”not” a natural”). He took me to some of his favorite bars and one really cool place out in the middle of BFE, where you picked your steak and then they cooked it over a fire while you all stood around and watched and drank beer. I don’t remember what it was called, but it made quite an impression. Over years, many deployments and distance, I kind of fell off the radar, but, I just wanted to let you know what an amazing fella he was, to the point that this many years after the fact, he is remembered. My condolences to all of his friends and family.