Jerry Lee Tyler
Sept. 21, 1900-June 9, 1946
Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 10, 1946, page 1, col. 8, cont. page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
Third Member of Family Dies at 9:35 P.M. Sunday
Combined Services Are
Conducted for Niles
Industrialist, Family
Combined funeral services were held today in the First Presbyterian church of Niles for the three members of the Jerry Tyler family of Niles--all victims of the LaSalle hotel fire in Chicago last Wednesday.
Succumbs Sunday Night
The third member of the family, Mr. Tyler, 45-year-old leading industrialist and prominent Niles civic leader died at 9:35 p.m. last night in St. Luke's hospital Chicago. Death was attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning. He had not . .[illegible] ..immediate victims of the holocaust had been his wife Mary, 40, and son Michael, 11.
Business Suspended Here
Business was suspended while hundreds of person attended the triple rites.
Niles stores were closed form 3 to 4 p.m. and the city hall closed its doors at 3 p.m. in tribute to the late industrialist and leader in both state and local civic affairs.
The church was expected to be thronged with friends and business associates of the Tyler family.
Conducted by Rev. Greenhoe
Originally scheduled for the first two victims, the funeral arrangements were changed this morning to include the husband and father as well.
Services were conducted by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe and interment was made in the mausoleum at Silverbrook cemetery.
Native of Saginaw
The son of Leon L. and Minnie Sturdevant Tyler, he was born in Saginaw, Mich., Sept 21, 1900, and has been a resident of Niles since 1932 when he moved the offices of the Tyler Sales Fixture company here from Michigan.
Tyler graduated from Traverse city high school in 1918, and spent two years at the United States Naval Academy and one year at the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Col. After leaving school, he became a salesman with the Shaw Walker company, Muskegon, and in 1924 and 1925 he conducted a retail business in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
In September 1927, he organized the Tyler Sales Fixture company, a business which he conducted under that name until 1937, when he company was reorganized as the Tyler Fixture Corporation. The company manufactures and sells steel display and steel storage equipment for handling perishable foodstuffs.
He was married Feb. 11, 1926 to the late Mary Witt Tyler, in Bowling Green, KY. She was the daughter of Vernon and Rosa Witt.
Active in Affairs
Tyler was active in community and political affairs in Niles and throughout the state. He was a member of the Berrien county draft board No. 3 from the date of its inception and was appointed by Governor Kelly in the aviation advisory committee to work in cooperation with the State Planning Commission and the Michigan Board of Aeronautics. He was a trustee of Alma college and also was a member of the Republican state central committee from the Fourth district.
Deeply interested in youth work, Tyler was one of the founders of the Local YMCA and a member of the state YMCA committee. During the first year of YMCA operations here, the entire first year's budget was provided by the Tyler company.
Tyler was a member of the First Presbyterian church, Masons, Elks, Niles Rotary club, Kappa Sigma fraternity, the Indiana club, the South Bend country club the American Legion, and the Orchard Hills country club.