WAGENER - Mr. Marion Dukes “Shorty” Tyler, Sr., entered into rest Sunday, July 5, 2015. Born August 28, 1927 in Wagener, SC, he was the younger son of the late Charlie Eugene Tyler, Sr. and Myra Corinne Dukes Tyler.
Mr. Tyler was an avid sports man and outdoors man all of his life. He lettered in football, basketball, and baseball at Wagener High School and upon graduation entered Clemson University. He played basketball for Clemson and was voted All State Center. He later attended Newberry College and was a star player on the baseball team. After returning from service with Uncle Sam in the Merchant Marines, he played baseball for the University of South Carolina. Mr. Tyler was a master builder learning the trade while working for Mr. Brantley Garvin. He then went out on his own and built many of the houses in the Wagener area. He was the Building Superintendent for the construction of the Wagener Medical Center. He was also a fireman for Southern Railroad. Mr. Tyler once again put his building skills to work when he became the building and trades instructor at Wagener Salley High School; he held this position for 15 years. Mr. Tyler was an active member of Wagener United Methodist Church for 75 years.
Mr. Tyler was called “Shorty” in his youth by his and his brother’s sitter Slim, and he has been called “Shorty” ever since. Shorty not only excelled in sports; he played golf, hunted birds and fished in every lake and pond for miles around. He was a loving husband to his wife of 64 years, Charlotte Haight Tyler, who passed away in September of 2011, and a caring father to his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and his nieces and nephews.
Shorty is survived by his sons, M. Dukes Tyler, Jr. of Wagener, Walter H. Tyler (Laurie), Tim M. Tyler (Glenda) and daughter Charlotte T. Snyder (Michael) of Chapin, SC, grandsons; Dana, Owen, Brian (Cindy), Andy, David, Chase, Dale, Brian (Ann) and Jay, granddaughter Brook Price, great grandchildren; Brent, Emily, Beth, Dallas, Taylor, and Grady, nephew Charlie E. Tyler, III (Ann), niece LeMyra T. Young (Garry), great nephews; Chet and Todd Tyler, and Tyler Young and, his best friend and cousin Allison H. Tyler, Sr.. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother C. E. “Gene” Tyler, Jr. and sister-in-law Frances L. Tyler.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 pm Tuesday in the chapel of Blizzard Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be 11:00 am Wednesday in the Wagener United Methodist Church with visitation following.
The family requests that memorials be made to the Wagener United Methodist Church at P. O. Box 265, Wagener, SC 29164.
