Jimmie Gerald Tyler

Jimmie Gerald Tyler passed away Monday, July 2, 2012 at age 73. Jim was a long time resident of Durant where he was born to Edna Roby Tyler King and S.P. Tyler on December 31, 1938. As a child, Jim was an inseparable companion to his older brother, Bennie. Together, they experienced adventures throughout Durant’s “East Side”. They spent time at the Eastside Presbyterian Church where they enjoyed Bible School during the summers. Jim held a special place in his heart for the East Side of Durant and the students at George Washington and Robert E. Lee elementary schools. He, along with wife Donna, established a scholarship fund to assist students with their education at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. During their childhood years, Jimmie and Bennie lived for a number of years with their beloved grandmother Molly Tyler “Momma Tidy”. She was the foundation for Jim’s young life and he held her spirit close until the end. As a youngster, Jim started working as a caddy at Durant Country Club. This experience was the beginning of his love for the game of golf. It was also the place where, throughout the Oklahoma summers, he developed his belief in the value of commitment and hard work. Jim received his diploma from Durant High School and attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Jim served in the National Guard at the early age of fourteen, and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Following his Air Force duty, Jim spent some time in Fort Worth, Texas and then returned to Durant to start his used car business. As an entrepreneur, Jim participated in various business ventures throughout the years. He always admired the Ford Motor Company line of vehicles and, in 1989, purchased the Ford Lincoln Mercury dealership in Durant. He later went on to purchase the Chevrolet dealership in Madill, Oklahoma and co-owned the Ford dealership with his son, Randal, in Booneville, Arkansas. Jim was always an avid football fan and greatly admired the OU Sooners and Dallas Cowboys. He closely followed sports and had a photographic memory of sports statistics. Jim felt strongly about helping young people recognize their potential and saw sports as a way to do this. He and friend John Tatum helped develop Durant’s Little League Football program. They felt that this would increase kids’ interest in sports and boost the success of the high school programs. Jim was a member of the Durant Elks Lodge and Durant Country Club for many years. He spent countless days golfing with friends and loved to compete in golf tournaments along with his buddies at Durant Country Club, Texarkana Country Club and other locations throughout Oklahoma and Texas. Jim also enjoyed the opportunity to talk through the political and social issues of the day. Meeting friends for coffee at Holiday Inn, Dandy Donuts and other spots around Durant was an important part of his daily life. Jim was preceded in death by his father S.P. Tyler, mother Edna King, brother Bennie Tyler, paternal grandparents George and Mollie Tyler, maternal grandparents John and Altha Roby and step grandfather Floyd Maupin. Jim is survived by loving wife, Donna Slaton Tyler, children Lisa Van Hoecke and husband Robert of Vienna, Virginia, Roby Tyler of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Randal Tyler and fiancée Pamela Ulloa of Fort Smith, Arkansas and Kimberly Brown and husband Zach of Springdale, Arkansas, grandchildren Tyler and Caden Brown and Alexandra Van Hoecke, step grandchildren Ashlie, Grayson and Jack Van Hoecke, step sister and brother-in-law Carol and Marty Rhodes of Tulsa, Oklahoma, sister-in-law Goldie Tyler, nephews Randy Tyler and wife Nancy of Dallas, Texas, Danny Tyler and wife Toma, nephew Derek Jones and nieces Teresa Cook and husband Michael and Delisa Morgan and husband Lynn, uncle George Tyler Jr., aunt Betty Hooper and husband Thurman, cousins Don Blevins, Linda Etheridge, Judy Mayfield and Sandra Carter. Family night will be held 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 10 at Brown’s Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 11 at First Baptist Church, Durant. Rev. James Robinson and Rev. Ross Kirven will officiate. Graveside services with military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery with Tom Lackey, Jon Jackson, Carroll Hutchens, Val Wood, Reggie Sullivan, John Massey, Wendell Cathey and Jim Huskey serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Howell, Joe Barker, Jim Jones, Jerry Thomason, Ron Hartin, Glen Johnson, William Fahrendorf, Butch Arnett, Ed Mills, Bill Elliot, Larry Dyson and Jerry Bouchman. Memorials can be made to the Jim and Donna Tyler Scholarship Fund at the Southeastern Foundation, 1405 North 4th Avenue, PMB 4187, Durant, Oklahoma 74701. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.brownsfuneralservice.com. Services are under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Service, Durant. PDF Printable Version

Jimmie Gerald Tyler

December 31, 1938 - July 2, 2012