Barbara Tyler

ORAN, Mo. -- Barbara Dell Tyler of Oran passed away Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, at her family home in the Caney Creek area near Oran, with her family in attendance.

She was born Sept. 25, 1937, to Ulmont Ray and Ruth Handley Howell on the family farm near Lone Rock, nestled in the Caney Creek area, and this is where she returned in her late years. She said she had missed the fields of corn.

On Oct. 5, 1968, she and James A. Tyler were united in marriage at Trinity United Methodist Church in Oran, and they were able to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary in October 2013 while they were both still hale and hearty. Jim preceded her in death Oct. 7, 2015.

Barb, as she preferred to be called, began her education in a one-room school on Highway 77 known as Wylie. She then finished the rest of her school years at Oran. She was graduated with the class of 1955, and with the benefit of a teaching scholarship, attended Southeast Missouri State College, receiving her Bachelor of Science in elementary education, and later, her master's in elementary administration.

She spent 55 years in education, almost 20 of those in administration, in public and private schools ranging from Flint, Michigan, to Fulton, Missouri, and almost every school in Scott County. She absolutely loved teaching; she loved her students, and stayed in touch with a vast majority of them. Her final teaching years were in the English Department with Three Rivers Junior College. This was a really worthwhile experience. She went into public speaking, earned many awards down through the years, and left behind a legacy to learn and a sense of humor to cope with life.

Loving survivors include her daughter, Sabrina (Jason) Pobst of Oran, and her son, Clint (Courtnie) Tyler of Benton, Missouri; her one and only sister, Pat Uptain, and nephew, Bryan Uptain of Cape Girardeau, and her niece, Laura Robinson of Taft, California. She is also survived by a son, Patrick Young, from a previous marriage. She leaves behind her grandchildren, whom she considers her pride and joy: Anna and Connor Pobst, Jonathon and Jada Tyler, Miranda and Carson Sadler, and Landry and Kate Tyler. Barb also wants to pay tribute to three special people: the two Bernard girls (Zeke and Barbara Dean) from Oran, and the friend she made the first day of college, Patricia Walker of Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Barb was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel, with the Rev. Kim Mitchell officiating. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers and in recognition of Barb's lifetime commitment to education, please make a donation to the school of your choice. Donations may also be made to Southeast Hospice.

Online condolences may be shared at amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.