Tracy Warren Hylton II, 76, of Beckley, WV, and Ridgeland, SC, passed away peacefully at the Mayo Clinic in Florida after a long illness on Saturday, January 11, 2025. He was born on August 9, 1948, in Mullens, WV, to the late Tracy and Betty Jo Foster Hylton.

Warren attended Mullens High School and Greenbrier Military School before enrolling at Beckley College and Marshall University where he studied engineering and business management. While living in Mullens, Warren was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and was active in Boy Scouts, where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

He served in the 150th Armored Calvary of the Army National Guard; while he was also learning about farming, hunting, and fishing from his grandfather. He became involved in mining at Perry and Hylton Coal Company at an early age under the tutelage of his father Tracy, learning about all aspects of the coal mining industry. He started managing coal mines at age 18.

Warren was always active in politics either in the background or serving as campaign manager for his father’s state Senate races. He was a true patriot who encouraged the betterment of his state and country.

He was an advocate for the state’s coal industry and was instrumental in the creation of the now worldwide organization The Friends of Coal. He served as its first chairman. This also included the start of the Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary, the three-day Friends of Coal Auto Fair at the YMCA Cline Memorial Sports Complex, and the Friends of Coal Bowl which pitted Marshall and West Virginia universities against each other in football.

He actively supported many youth, educational, religious, equine, and civic organizations including the YMCA of Southern West Virginia, the Boy Scouts of America Summit Bechtel Reserve, the American Heart Association, The United Way, The Beckley Raleigh County - United Cerebral Palsy, Tunnels to Towers, and St. Jude. His priority was helping the youth by providing funding for projects in many private and public schools, colleges, community ball fields, playgrounds, and scholarship programs.

Warren was a business person that owned over 30 companies in mining, farming, cattle, land development, automotive, hotels, furniture, sporting goods, and real estate, employing thousands of West Virginians. A few of these businesses included Eller Inc, Patience Inc, New Land Leasing, Nell Jean Industries, Beckley Buick GMC Automall, King Coal Chevrolet, Harper Hotel, Perry and Hylton Coal Company, Southern WV Industrial Park, South Slopes LLC, Grandview Farms Country Store, Beckley Hylton and Ramada Hotel and Conference Center.

In addition to his involvement in many businesses, Warren was a good citizen of his community. Warren served on various boards of directors including Bank of Raleigh, City Holdings Company, City National Bank of West Virginia, West Virginia Coal Association, Safari Club International (WV), and Flat Top Lake Association.

Warren was recognized with numerous awards throughout his lifetime including an honorary Doctor of Law degree at University of Charleston, Spirit of Beckley Community Service Award, Mountain State University Hall of Fame and Career Achievement Award for outstanding achievement and performance by alumni in their chosen careers, Distinguished West Virginian award from then Governor Joe Manchin, and was presented by the mayor of Beckley with the Key to the City.

Warren was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed developing land as habitat for wildlife. He spent many days on horseback through the woods or in the show ring with his loving family. His lifelong dream came to fruition in his development of Almost Heaven Plantation in Ridgeland, South Carolina, an Orvis Endorsed Wingshooting Lodge that offers an outdoor experience for all. He quoted it as “A Place Where Memories are Made and Never Forgotten.” He was able to share this passion during his final years with his family, friends, and guests from around the globe.

Warren will be remembered as a business owner, a great visionary, a civic leader, a loving husband, a devoted father, a true outdoorsman, a friend, and an advocate to the coal industry and the state's young people.

Survivors include his wife Patty Tate Hylton of Ghent; daughters TraciJo and Morgan Hylton; step son Adam and wife, Kellie, and their sons, David, Alec, and Ethan; brother Harry “Mack” Hylton and wife Teresa of Daniels; and Robert “Bob” Hylton of Beaver; niece Kirsten Hylton; nephew Lance Hylton; brother-in-law Shaler “Buddy” Tate III and wife Susan of Shady Spring; nephew Shaler Tate IV and wife Stephanie and their sons Tristen and Colton of Grandview; aunt Elizabeth Hylton of Washington D.C.; cousins Vicki Landing Mix of Beaufort, SC; Debra Ward Pursell of Cleveland, OH; and Linda Temple Kyles of Atlanta, GA; Ray Hylton of Stephens City, VA; Mark Hylton of Stephens City, VA; Stuart Hylton of Winchester, VA, Michael Kersey of Mannington, WV, Greg Ward of Old Station, CA; Don Ward of Dandridge, TN, Paul “Robbie” Goode of Henderson, TN, and Paula Goode Fannin of Dacula, GA, Judy Foster Holland, and Greg Foster. He is also survived by an abundance of loving family, friends, and colleagues that will miss him dearly.