John Tyson, Sr.

John Tyson, Sr., 86, passed from this life to his eternal rest on October 17, 2012. The family will receive friends from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Sunday, October 21, at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street in Abilene, Texas. A funeral service will be conducted at 4:00 PM Monday, October 22, at the Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler, Abilene, Texas.
Graveside services and burial will be in Bluebonnet Hills Cemetery in Colleyville, Texas, at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, October 23, 2012.

John was born January 26, 1926, in Agnes, Texas, to Claude Tyson and Willie Annette Moore Tyson, the younger of two boys. He grew up in Saginaw, Texas, and graduated from Technical High School on Fort Worth’s north side in May 1944. Immediately following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he served until his honorable discharge in May 1946. He served as a lookout on the battleship U.S.S. Colorado. He received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for bravery in action when he was wounded in the Battle of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippine Islands on January 9, 1945.

As a World War II veteran John attended Abilene Christian College on the GI Bill graduating in December 1950 with a B.S. degree in business. It was during his time in college that John was baptized at the Northside Church of Christ in Abilene. Throughout his lifetime he was a faithful member of the church, serving as a deacon, elder, and Bible class teacher at congregations in Wichita Falls, San Angelo, Hurst and Abilene, Texas.

John entered the United States Civil Service after his graduation from college. He served as a civilian instructor at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, and then spent most of his career with the Social Security Administration based in San Angelo and Fort Worth. He retired January 26, 1988 after 38 years of service to his country.

While he was a student at Abilene Christian he met Frances Stewart of Irving, Texas. They married June 23, 1956, and enjoyed 37 years of marriage until her death on June 10, 1993. Following the death of his wife, John lovingly cared for his mother-in-law, Lucy Stewart, and mother who lived with him in his home until their deaths in 1996 and 2000, respectively. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and uncle.

John and his family lived in Hurst, Texas, from January 1959 until June 2001, when he moved to Abilene, Texas, where he was a resident of Christian Village and a member of the Hillcrest Church of Christ.

John was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brother and sister-in-law, William E. and Margaret Collins Tyson. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law John and Valinda Tyson, Jr. of Abilene, his daughter Lu Anne Tyson of Hurst, grandchildren Victoria, Trey and Trevor Tyson of Abilene, nephews William (Bill) and Shelly Tyson, and Tom Tyson, all of Grand Prairie, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family wishes to express appreciation to the many kind people at Christian Village of Abilene, The Oaks at Radford Hills, Home Instead Senior Care, Hendrick Hospice Care and Dr. Gary Holland for their gentle and loving care of John.

John was a devoted Christian who supported his church, Christian education, various ministries and mission efforts. Memorials made to any of these groups that tell the story of Jesus would be deeply appreciated by the family. Online condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.