James Andrew “Jim” Tyler, 44, of Halfway, died June 23, 2008, at his home.
His memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Pine Valley Presbyterian Church in Halfway. Pastor Bill Shields will officiate.There will be a reception after the service.
Jim was born on Nov. 2, 1963, at Kemmerer, Wyo. He grew up in Halfway, attending Halfway Elementary School. He was a 1982 graduate of Pine-Eagle High School at Halfway.
After graduation, he went on to attend Oregon State University at Corvallis where he graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in business. After graduation from college, Jim lived in the Portland area working as a machinist for various companies that built parts for NASA, surgical instruments, and multi-tools as well as other mechanical tools.
While living in Portland, he discovered a love of umpiring softball for various children’s leagues throughout the city. Jim later moved to the Bend area after leaving Portland, where he worked as a machinist making bullets.
He returned to Halfway in 2005 after being diagnosed with ALS “Lou Gehrig’s” disease.
Jim loved hunting, fishing, and the outdoors in general. If he was not working he was umpiring softball games, spending the days in the outdoors riding his mountain bike, taking photographs, fishing, hunting, or just enjoying the world.
Throughout his life, Jim followed the Oregon State Beavers and was proud to be an alumnus. He cheered them on whenever they had a televised game.
He was also a lifelong New England Patriots fan, collected coins and comic books, was an aficionado of the Civil War and military airplanes, loved doing woodworking, did various drawings and sketches, and was a faithful weightlifter.
Jim was always a quiet, private person who was devoted to his family and friends.
Survivors include his parents, Wayne and Louise Tyler; sister and brother-in-law, Connie and Lonnie Jenkins; niece, Abigail; brother and sister-in-law, Francis and Tammy Tyler; niece and nephew, Hillary and Wyatt; grandmother, Christine Tyler; and numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, and close friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to the ALS/Muscular Dystrophy Association through Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 27, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor