Ethel Louise Tyler
Ethel Louise Tyler passed away peacefully January 1, 2016 at age 101 years and 10 months.
Ethel was born February 24, 1914 to Horace and Mattie Hockema in Sumner Center Township, in Southern Minnesota. There she grew up, met and married Thomas Tabor, and had two children: Thomas and Eve. They farmed and Ethel taught in a one-room school after completing teacher training at St. Cloud, MN.
The family moved to Seattle, WA in the late 1940s where Ethel and Thomas worked at Boeing. Next, the family moved to a farm in the Bellingham area while Ethel complete her Bachelor’s degree in order to teach in Washington.
She taught at elementary level for the next 23 years in four different school districts. Her specialty was teaching her students to read with “phonics.” With her quiet, loving manner, she had much success. She also earned credentials to counsel in elementary in latter years.
Ethel became the sole breadwinner for her family when Thomas had a debilitating coronary heart attack in 1955. He passed away 10 years later, after 31 years of marriage.
A few years later, Ethel met and married John Tyler. They lived in Maple Valley, WA, St. Maries, ID and Spokane Valley, WA where John died in 1994 after their 25th wedding anniversary.
Ethel not only was widowed twice, but was preceded in death by her beloved son, Thomas, his wife Margie, and son-in-law Bruce Prescott. She is survived by her daughter, Eve Prescott; four grandchildren: Thomas Tabor, Jr., Gregory Tabor, Cindy Fischer, and Christine Buchanan; 11 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
A strong and independent person, Ethel often helped her children and grandchildren financially for college or other challenges, while denying herself luxuries.
She loved raising flowers, playing her piano, oil painting, sculpting, wood carving, Republican politics and all things chocolate.
No doubt, God is saying, “Well done my child,” to our beloved mother/grandma extraordinaire.
A memorial service will be held on April 16 at 11am in the Spokane Valley.
