Thelma Louise Tyler

Thelma Louise Tyler, born April 3, 1937 to Lloyd A. and Grace (Blough) Shaffer in Quemahoning township, PA.  Preceded in death by her parents and 7 siblings:  Rachel Miller, Ruby Berkebile, Claire, Melvin, Floyd, Ralph, and Merle Shaffer.  Survived by loving husband of nearly 64 years, Charles, children Karen E. married to Andrew Drake, Buckley, WA; Paula L. married to Clement Scott, Bisbee, AZ; Nancy R. married to Dave Yoder, Buckley, WA; 5 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; brother Lloyd Jr. and wife Lois, Delaware; sister Eva married to Roy Manges, Arizona; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Thelma and Charles were married on June 1, 1957.  They were inseparable for nearly 64 years.  They raised 3 daughters in Tucson, AZ after moving from Northern Virginia.  Thelma was a stay-at-home mom, alternating with part time secretarial jobs.  Charles and Thelma took their family camping and hiking all around Arizona.  One memorable trip was to the Grand Canyon, but we never made it because we loved slide rock in Sedona so much!  We always had animals through the years - Chickens, turkeys, goats, dogs, and cats.  Mom kept us girls busy in girl scouts and 4-H, she was frequently either the leader or their best volunteer.  She was an accomplished seamstress and sewed many of our clothes.  Charles and Thelma were always active in church and raised all of us to know God and His plan for us.  After we were grown, Charles and Thelma were missionaries for Cookson Hills Christian School in Oklahoma.  They were house parents for unwed mothers, and then head cooks at the dining hall.  The next decade saw them as caretakers of a working cattle ranch in the Dragoon Mountains of Arizona.  They made friends everywhere they went and showed the love of Jesus.  Charles and Thelma then built a straw bale house as their retirement home and opened it as a Bed & Breakfast.  In their retirement years, they enjoyed their 5 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.  As they aged, they moved to Bisbee, Arizona where Paula and Clement helped them maintain their independence for as long as possible.  About 2 years ago, they moved to Buckley, WA to be near Karen and Nancy and their families to get the extra care needed for mom.  But time passed too quickly, and mom went home to be with the Lord on April 6, 2021.  She will forever be in our hearts and we have hope because we will see her again!

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