Ray Tyler, 72, of Fitzgerald, Georgia died Thursday, July 30, 2015, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 1 PM, Saturday, August 1, 2015, at Ocilla Church of God in Ocilla with the Rev. Clayton Dowd, the Rev. Joel Shirley, and the Rev. Jeremy Donald officiating. Interment will follow at 5 PM, Saturday in the Corinth Cemetery in Seminole County, Georgia. The family will receive friends Friday evening, from 7 to 9, at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Tyler was born October 24, 1942, in Donalsonville, Georgia, to the late Frank Ray & Dixie Vernice Miller Tyler. He was a graduate of Belle Glade High School in Florida and served his country honorably in the United States Navy. He was employed with Southern Bell for over 27 years. While in Belle Glade, he was a member of Belle Glade Church of God where he was church clerk and enjoyed playing church league softball. He later joined Good Shepherd Church of God in Pahokee, Florida. Mr. Tyler moved to Fitzgerald in 1998, coming from south Florida. He loved to spend time with his family and was proud to have established Grandma’s Closet, a consignment store in downtown Fitzgerald. A member of the Ocilla Church of God, he served on the Pastor’s Council.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Geraldine Lockwood Tyler of Fitzgerald; four sons and their spouses: Mark & Kelly Tyler of Plant City, Florida, Michael & Stephanie Tyler of Valrico, Florida, Matthew & Leigh Tyler of Plant City, Florida, and Myles & Bethany Tyler of Fitzgerald; grandchildren: Michael Tyler, Evan Tyler, Kayla Rodriguez, Mitchell Tyler, Meghan Tyler, Reed Tyler, Lauryn Tyler, Brooke Tyler, Mason Tyler, and Marcus Tyler; a great-grandson, Reece Rodriguez; a sister, Glenda Tyler Champion Byrd and her husband Russel of Jennings, Florida; and his father-in-law, Cal Lockwood of Fitzgerald. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Isabel Lockwood.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to the Ocilla Church of God’s Youth Building Fund, P O Box 611, Ocilla, GA 31774 or to Gideon’s International, Ben Hill-Irwin Camp, P O Box 752, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.