Helen E. Tyler
June 1, 1927 ~ Sept. 13, 2011
Helen E. Tyler joined the Lord on Sept 13, 2011, after a lengthy struggle with lung cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. She passed peacefully at the Walbridge Wing in Meeker, Colo., with her husband at her side.
Helen was born June 1, 1927, to Charles W. Beck and Blanche M. (Stone) in Grand Junction, Colo., and was graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1945. She married James M. Tyler Jr. of Atchison, Kan., in August 1945. Their first home was in Glenwood Springs, Colo., where Jim was a hospital corpsman at the U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital, now known as the Hotel Colorado. Helen moved to Kansas in late 1946 to live with Jim’s parents, James M. Tyler Sr. and Alice Clare (Deroin) after Jim was ordered to serve aboard the hospital ship, USS Benevolence.
The family returned to Boulder, Colo., in 1950, when Jim began pharmacy school at the University of Colorado. From 1956 until 1966 she and the family resided in Tulsa, Okla., returning to Boulder to spend the next 36 years. In 2003, Helen and Jim moved to a ranch on Flag Creek just outside of Meeker.
During her lifetime, Helen worked as a movie attendant, soda fountain waitress, welder, cook, cashier, bookkeeper and ranch hand. She belonged to the Eastern Star and was president of the Tulsa Pharmacy Wives Association. Her greatest joy and accomplishment was as mother and grandmother.
Helen is survived at the ranch by her husband of 66 years. She is also survived by sister Charlene Kipp (Earl “Bus”) of Grand Junction, Colo.; son Patrick Tyler (Linda) of Boulder, Colo.; daughter Nancy Richardson (Fain) at the ranch; grandsons James Richardson (J’Leah) and sons Ty, Coy and Cody of Meeker; Seth Richardson (Wendy) and daughter Dayonna and son Lyam of Meeker; and Justin Richardson (Chalet) of Wauwatosa, Wisc.
Helen is preceded in death by her father and mother and her sisters, Doris Caster and Iva Lavern.
The family will hold a memorial celebration of life at the Rio Blanco Funeral Home in Meeker on Oct. 1, 2011, from noon until 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the Helen E. Tyler Memorial Account has been set up at Mountain Valley Bank, P.O. Box 718, Meeker, CO, 81641 for disbursement to cancer and Alzheimer’s research. Per Helen’s wishes, cremation has taken place and the ashes will be scattered over the ranch on Flag Creek.
The family would like to thank Dr. Turner and the staff at the Walbridge Wing for their wonderful care. In honor of Helen, the family asks everyone to do an act of kindness for someone else.
