Kathryn Tyler

Kathryn M. “Kaye” Tyler, age 84 years of Granger, Indiana died peacefully at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9, 2018 with her family gathered around at her home following an extended illness.  Her family is grateful for the compassionate and skilled care offered by the staff of the Center for Hospice Care.

She was born on November 30, 1933 in Peoria, Illinois to Neil and Helen (Edwards) Meriwether.  She graduated from Galesburg (Illinois) High School, and attended Knox College in Galesburg.  On April 5, 1952 in Monticello, Indiana she married Thomas L. Tyler of Niles, Michigan.  Tom and Kaye lived in many locations where she would make a home for them including Hanover, New Hampshire; Aberdeen, Maryland; Smyrna, Delaware; Niles, Michigan; Lucerne, Switzerland; Rye, New Hampshire; Chesterland, Ohio; and Huntington, Indiana.  Most recently, Tom and Kaye established a permanent residence in Venice, Florida and summer in Granger, Indiana.

Kaye was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles, and the South Bend Bridge Club affiliate of the American Contract Bridge League.  She was also a former member of the Niles Service League, but her greatest interest was providing a loving home for her family.

Kaye was fluent in German.  Tom’s work frequently included hosting foreign guests, and Kaye was the perfect hostess.  She was well regarded, in particular, by the Japanese executives she entertained.  In Huntington, Kaye became an entrepreneur, owning and operating Letter Perfect Embroidery for ten years.

Kaye was preceded in death by a sixteen year old son, Stephen N. Tyler on November 15, 1971; and a brother, Daniel Meriwether, in 2011.

Surviving family include her husband of sixty-five years, Tom Tyler and their children, Terence (& Gisele) Tyler of Danbury, Connecticut and Jennifer Tyler (& husband, Lee Allard) of Grand Rapids, Michigan; grandchildren Kathleen (& Eric) Walania, Christine (& Scott) Dansereau, Devon Tyler, Stephen Tyler, Lauren Allard, and Lindsey Allard; great-grandchildren Christian and Claire Walania and Edward Dansereau; and Kaye’s siblings, Peter (& Joanne) Spink of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Jacqueline Meriwether of Chandler, Arizona, George (& Joni) Meriwether of Wildwood, Missouri, and sister-in-law Anita (Mrs. Daniel) Meriwether of Longmont, Colorado; and many nieces and nephews.

Services for Kathryn Tyler will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the First Presbyterian Church, 13 South Fourth Street, Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating.  Committal will be private, at a later date in the Tyler Family block of Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday in the Tyler Chapel of First Presbyterian Church.  Contributions in memory of Kaye may be made to the FPC Foundation, c/o First Presbyterian Church, 13 South Fourth Street, Niles, MI   49120; or to the Center for Hospice Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles.