Birth date: Sep 18, 2024 Death date: Dec 31, 2025
Waylon Dean Wilson, age 1, of Charlotte, passed away on December 31, 2025. He was born in Huntersville on September 18, 2024, the beloved son of Dawson and Shelby Wilson. Waylon, affectionately known as “Way Way”, was a joyful, c Read Obituary
Memory for January 19th:
My brother Jake asked me today what Waylon's favorite fish was and I thought this is a good day to share his love for the aquarium. Waylon was a proud member of the Sea Life aquarium. We had been going since he was 3-4 months old. Way Way loved the sea turtles, the sting rays and the jelly fish. Sea life was the perfect size for him and we'd go often and visit almost weekly. It was a great place for him to run around in with us closely behind. He loved being able to explore and see all the fishes and was a huge fan of our two fish at home as well. Sea life had just built a play area for toddlers at the end and Waylon loved getting to explore that room too. This was one and if not his most favorite place to be.
Memory for January 18th:
Today was hard as Waylon should be 16 months old today. I received a sweet surprise this morning before church and saw a cardinal in outside my kitchen window. This time he brought a friend a female cardinal. This memory felt right today, it is back ten months ago when Way Way was six months old. When spring was starting and the sun was shining. At that time we were excited to see Waylon attempting to sit on his own which he did for our photos. We were ready but also terrified to teach him how to eat. The lack of sleep those first few months were becoming less, Waylon was starting to sleep through the night more. Half a year seemed to go by so fast and so slow at the same time. Those that have had newborns will understand but you do blink and they get older. I loved this day and I love Way Way.
Memory for January 17th:
My husband and I love the NC Chinese Lantern Festival. When we found out a smaller but similar Chinese Lantern festival would be occurring in concord we knew we had to take Waylon. Way Way loved all the lights and lanterns, as well as crawling on the disco floor. They had cotton candy animals that Waylon tried but did not like the texture. With the shows, the lights, and the late night by the time Waylon had gotten into the car he was ready to fall asleep.
Memory for January 16th:
Waylon was such a cool kid in his car. I remember following a mom coupon group and was able to find this car on Walmart for around 30.00 and immediately bought it. Way Way loved cruising in the car around the cul-de-sac and seeing his friend down the street who would switch cars so they could each play (his friend had a little tikes car that Waylon loved as well). The neighbors loved watching him be the road racer he was. He loved wheels and he would even try to touch the tires while driving. The summer/fall evenings before bedtime when we'd get him out to cruise were perfect and are missed.
Memory for January 15th:
Waylon's Rookie of the Year birthday party. 365 days with my best friend, we invited family and friends to come celebrate Waylon's rookie year with us. Waylon got a cool dinosaur to help him continue his walking skills from memaw. He received a Mickey Mouse book that told him the story if we pushed the buttons in Mickey Mouse's voice. Waylon would make my dad, his grandpa continuously restart the story over and over again. I was so excited for him to try cake, but Waylon cried while trying it cause everyone was watching him. His dad before had always joked sweets were bad for him, but over time going into the fall and winter I'd give him a little Debbie and he'd eat the entire thing. This day was surrounded by love and joy for Way Way. I've also included snippets from his actual birthday where I put party hats on his bears and balloons so he could see them when he woke up.
Memory for January 14th:
There are so many videos I have of him learning and investigating how things work. I miss him running around with us around the fireplace and playing peek a boo. I miss the quiet moments in his room reading his books to him or playing with his new Mickey Mouse race car track. I miss the play house he had and him opening and closing the door over and over again and turning the light switch off and on. We had so many fun adventures with his dad and I but the small quiet moments are what I miss.
Memory for January 13th:
The pumpkin patch. Our pumpkin patch trip included both Carrigan farms in the morning a quick lunch and nap and then checking out Pattterson Farms by the afternoon. This trip was so much fun, Waylon got to go on a hayride and pick a pumpkin at Carrigans. At Pattersons he went down the slide with his dad, walked through a corn maze where we learned the story of spookly the pumpkin, and rode in cow cars with me. Once home Waylon's dad would help carve the pumpkins and put them on our front porch.
Memory for January 12th:
This was Waylon's second year going to the Kannapolis Village Lights. The first year we dressed him up as a reindeer. Waylon usually had a routine bedtime which was 7:30 pm but this day was special, we let him nap later so he could enjoy all the Christmas lights. Waylon loved the Kannapolis Village train light show, the carousel, meeting Santa, and running around looking at all the lights. The weather was perfect it still felt like 70 degrees. We ended the night by watching the bear animatronics inside the park. Once Waylon got in the car he was worn out from all the excitement and went to sleep.
Memory January 10th:
My husband and I talked about needing a vacation so we decided to go to the beach around my birthday. I just so happen to get off a round of night shifts and I had my husband drive us down there while I was halfway exhausted. The beach trip was so worth it, Waylon got to go down a slide with his dad float in the lazy river and pool, and we took him to Ripleys aquarium. Waylon was always a fan of a good aquarium he loved fishes even the ones we had at home. He got to play on the beach where his dad helped him build sand castles and he really enjoyed the ocean.
Memory for January 9th:
Waylon's first birthday trip, Thomas the Train. When we started talking about what we wanted to do for Waylon's birthday besides the party, I had always known I wanted to take him to Thomas the Train. We started to watch Thomas the Train cartoons at home in preparation for the trip. This day was so much fun it was beautiful outside. My in laws came with us as well. The Thomas the train experience was perfect for kiddos and although Waylon wasn't completely walking on his own yet he had a lot of fun. He loved the cars that were all around and the ride along train. They had little train tracks with cars at his level that he got to play with. The train ride itself was short but the memories made were awesome.
