James Malcolm Tyler Jr.
Aug. 21, 1929 ~ March 2, 2019
James Malcolm Tyler Jr. was born in Topeka, Kansas, on Aug. 21, 1926, to James Malcolm Tyler Sr. and Alice Clare (DeRoin) Tyler. He was raised in Atchison, Kansas, and graduated from Atchison High School in 1944. He immediately joined the United States Navy and took his basic training at the USNTS at Great Lakes, Ill.
From there he attended the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps School at Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif.; upon graduation he was assigned to the U.S. Navy Hospital, Oak Knoll, Oakland, Calif. His tour there was short-lived and along with six other sailors he boarded a train headed for Colorado, where there are lots of oceans. They ended up at Glenwood Springs, Colo., where the Hotel Colorado at the Hot Springs had been remodeled to become a U.S. Navy Convalescent Hospital.
On March 17, 1945, Jim ventured to Grand Junction, Colo., on a blind date that had to cancel. He met and began courting Helen Elaine Beck. On Aug. 6, 1945, they became husband and wife. When Jim was sent overseas, Helen moved to Atchison to be with his parents. Jim spent time aboard the USS Benevolence with tours in the South Pacific, including participation in the atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll, and in China.
In 1947, their son Patrick Arthur was born on Dec. 29. Jim attended Benedictine College in his home town for three years and when unable to get into medical school at KU he transferred to the University of Colorado to attend the school of pharmacy.
The classes at CU were interrupted as Jim was re-called to active duty in the Navy during the Korean Conflict to open and stock an EENT clinic at Mare Island Naval Hospital, Vallejo, Calif. Unknown to Jim, on his discharge in WWII, the Commanding Officer of the Medical Division of the USS Benevolence had made him an EENT tech; supposedly the only one in existence. He returned to Boulder after his service at Mare Island to continue his education.
After graduating from CU and receiving his pharmacy license, Jim practiced in Arvada, Colo., for a year before moving to Tulsa, Okla. On Sept. 8, 1957, Nancy Ann was born. After 10 years in Tulsa, the family moved to Boulder, Colo., as Patrick was beginning college at CU in 1966.
Jim worked for Jack Walker in a Gibson Discount Store, then to Woolco, and then to Kmart. Jim retired from Kmart in 1990 after 35 years as a pharmacist.
In 2003, Jim and Helen sold their home in Boulder of 36 years and moved to the ranch on Flag Creek south of Meeker, Colo.
Preceding Jim in death are his parents and his beloved wife of 66 years.
Surviving are son Patrick and Linda (Beal) Tyler of Boulder, Colo.; daughter Nancy (Tyler) and Fain Richardson, Meeker, Colo.; grandsons James and J’Leah (Leonard) Richardson, Meeker; Fain “Justin” and Chalet (Clonts) Richardson, Pinetop, Ariz.; Seth and Wendy (Lancaster) Richardson, Meeker; and 11 great-grandchildren: James “Ty”ler, Coy, Dayonna, Cody, Lyam, Easton, McKayla, Kimber, Colton, Shelby and Shayne.
Cremation has occurred. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Blackburn and Sons Vernal Mortuary. Please see our website to send the family condolences. www.blackburnvernalmortuary.com
