Tyler, William Earle

LAKE CITY: Reverend William “Earle” Tyler, Sr., 64, passed away peacefully Friday, February 11th, 2011 in his home after a long illness. Rev. Tyler was born in Florence County on September 17th, 1946. He was a son of the late Rufus C. Tyler and the late Gracie Chandler Tyler Gaskins, and was the husband of Sherrill Powell Tyler of Lake City. Rev. Tyler was ordained as a minister by the Scranton Pentecostal Holiness Church where he served in many capacities. He served through the years as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and Choir Member, and was very active in the Mission Outreach in West Virginia and the Church Food Bank. Rev. Tyler was also a member of New Prospect Free Will Baptist Church for a number of years. He served his country honorably in the United States Air Force. Rev. Tyler was a Staff Sergeant, serving in the Vietnam War. He was a member of Lebanon Lodge # 48 A.F.M. in Scranton where he was a Master Mason and Lodge Chaplin. Rev. Tyler was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He was a member of Pierce Hunting Club in Florence and Sandy Bay Hunting Club in Cades. Rev. Tyler was a devoted father and friend who will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him. Rev. Tyler‘s surviving family includes his wife of 43 years, Sherrill P. Tyler, of the home; his two children, Bill Tyler (Tammy), of New Zion and Marcia Tyler Gaskins (Lee) of Prospect; his three grandchildren, Tyler Lee Gaskins and Kaylee Rivers Gaskins, both of Prospect, and Joe Stevenson, of New Zion; his brother, John Arnold Tyler, Sr. (Helen), of Kingstree; his brother-in-law, J.E. Powell, of Darlington, and his special friends, Joyce and Derrell Coker, of Johnsonville, and Lavon and Jim Coleman, of Bulls Gap, Tennessee. Rev. Tyler is preceded in death by his daughter, Michaelle Denise Tyler. The family of Rev. Tyler will hold a visiting hour from one until two o‘clock p.m., Sunday, February 13th, 2011 in the funeral home. Memorial services for Rev. Tyler will be held at two o‘clock p.m., Sunday, February 13th, 2011 in the Brockington Funeral Home Chapel. Committal services will be held in the New Prospect Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery. Brockington Funeral Home, Lake City, is in charge.