In Memoriam

 Clay's grandfather died this week. It's been hard on Clay, as this has been expected for a ling time, but still hard to believe when it happens. He was an amazing man, and I hope Lily will be able to read this one day and be able to know who her great-grandfather was. What I remember about him was how kind he was to me and how he made me laugh, but I especially remember the last time we saw him. Lily was only a couple months old, and he was absolutely enamored with her. It was incredibly sweet.

 

We will not be able to make it up to TN tomorrow, but there is no doubt we will be remembering him from here.

James Edwin Tyson, Sr.

Born: February 28, 1923 Died: January 20, 2012 Services:  2:00 PM Sunday, January 22, 2012 in the Mausoleum of Highland Memorial Gardens. Visitation:  12:00 PM until 1:30 PM Sunday, January 22, 2012 at Arrington Funeral Directors. Funeral services for James Edwin “Ed” Tyson, Sr., age 88 will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, January 22, 2012 in the chapel of Highland Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, with Bro. Ted Lacy officiating. Entombment will follow in the mausoleum. Music will be provided by Debbie Nichols, Janet Jairard and Tere Ervin. Mr. Tyson was born February 28, 1923 in Corinth, MS and passed away on January 20, 2012 at the Kindred Hospital in Nashville, TN. He attended high school in Corinth, MS and Teacher’s College in Ada, OK. He was a member of Highland Park Baptist Church. He was a veteran of World War II, a crew member of the 92nd B.G. 8th Air Force, assigned to the 327th Squadron at Poddington, England. The squadron flew 22 ½ missions over Germany. Their last mission was in April, 1945 to Ruyen, France. At V.E. Day, he was transferred to the 325th Squadron from Istres, France and flew on the “Green” Project to Casablanca and Port Lyautey, France Morocco. He received medals and citations for his service, including the Africa Theater Campaign medal; three Air Medals; Aerial Gunners Wings; Marksmanship; two Campaign Medals, ATO_ETO with two stars, Rhineland and Central Europe; European-African-Middle Eastern Operations Medal; and World War II Victory Medal. After the war he maintained his interest in flying for the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Stearman Restorers Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, Aircraft Owners Pilot Association, Commemorative Air Force (CAF), and 92nd USAAF?USAF Memorial Association (which still has reunions every two years in Poddington, England.) He retired from TVA Power System Operations, where he was employed for 35 years. Throughout his life, Mr. Tyson was active in service to his community, always took an interest in people and gave of himself to encourage others. He was a Scout Master in Murfreesboro, TN. As a special interest he taught music lesions there, foregoing recompense if the student was unable to pay. In Jackson, he was appointed to the Jackson Municipal Regional Planning Comission, where he served for eight years, operated a home business, “New World Music”, helping others in music. He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard Tyson and Jewel McDaniel Tyson and a brother Rayford “Rosie” Tyson. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 68 years, Lorene Arnett Tyson; three sons, James E. Tyson, Jr. and wife Pam of Franklin, TN; Dennis Tyson and Jerry Tyson of Jackson; one daughter, Rhonda Tyson of Dickson, TN. He leaves eight grandchildren, Bethany Sharp, Matthew Tyson, Clayton Tyson, Justin Davis, Azlee Case, Audrey Tyson, Whitney Tyson and Nicholas Tyson; four great grandsons, Payton Davis, Lance Davis, Hayden Cook, Elijah Sharp; two great granddaughters, Lilly Tyson and Amelia Smith. The family will be receiving friends on Sunday, January 22,