James Robert Tyson

James Robert “Jim” Tyson

James Robert “Jim” Tyson age 98, of Paola, Ks. formerly of rural Parker, Ks. died Friday, December 23, 2011 at Golden Heights Nursing Home in Garnett, Ks.

Jim was born Sept.1, 1913 in Linn Co. Kansas. He was the youngest of 3 children born to Robert James Tyson and Blanche M. (Harrison) Tyson. At the age of seven the family moved from Centerville, Ks. to Parker.

He graduated from Parker Rural High School in 1932. He then went to work for the Parker State Bank as a bookkeeper in 1933. He retired from banking in 1965 as bank president when the bank moved to Garnett, Ks.

Jim married Avis Lucille Bottrell June 3, 1936 and to this union three sons were born, John, Robert, and Elwin.

In 1961 James and family moved to the family ranch, founded in 1871 by his grandfather. There he was a stockman. He baled and sold hay and shipped it to the Kansas City stockyards by rail.

During this time Jim enjoyed fishing and hunting, mostly in Wyoming and went on several deer hunts there and on the family ranch for whitetail deer. He lived on the family ranch for 40 years before moving to Paola in 2000, when his eyesight started to fail.

Jim was a founding member and organizer of the Mo Kan section of the Wally Byamm Caravan Club in 1953, later becoming president of the Kansas Club. The club traveled the U.S. and Canada, visiting a different place every year. He and wife Avis also traveled to several countries around the world by air. He enjoyed traveling and had many stories to tell of this travels. On one travel to Florida he studied and learned lapidary work. He also assisted his wife Avis with setting up her art work.

Jim was baptized at an early age and attended the Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, by two sisters: Dorothy Tyson Smith and Lucille Tyson, both of Fort Worth, Texas, and in 2009 by his wife Avis.

Survivors are son: John Tyson and wife Susan of Lincoln, Ks. son: Robert Tyson and wife Linda of Parker, Ks. and son: Elwin and wife Billie of Plains, Ks. Seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 10:30am Wed. Dec.28, 2011 Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home, Osawatomie, Ks. followed by burial at Goodrich Cemetery, Goodrich, Ks. In state after 1:00pm Tues. followed by visitation 6-8pm Tues. evening.

The memorial charity is the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation and may be sent in care of Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home. 203 Main, Osawatomie, Ks. 66064 (913)755-2114 www.eddybirchard.com