Edward Gordon Tyler

On August 26, 1934, a darling baby boy, Edward Gordon Tyler was born in Seattle, Washington, to Edward (Teddy) and Esther Tyler. Edward was raised in Madison Park and attended Seattle Public Schools. He loved growing up in the heart of the city near Lake Washington, Washington Park, and the Arboretum. His love for golf started when he was a caddie at the Broadmoor Golf and Country Club. Ed was athletic and loved sports. After high school at Garfield, he worked at the local gas station across the street from his home where he remembered a beautiful redhead coming to visit him. On April 15, 1955, he married that gorgeous girl, Victoria Elinor Hart at the Seattle First Baptist Church. At the young age of 20, his mother had to sign for him to marry the love of his life. The two city kids started their marital journey in an apartment on Queen Anne Hill. Ed and Victoria always joked they didn't have two nickels to rub together when they wed.
In April of 1957, Eddie, as he was affectionately called, joined the US Coast Guard, and served his country. After one year of service, he was given the opportunity to live at the West Point Lighthouse on Magnolia and operate it. He and Victoria had fond memories of that year living at the lighthouse overlooking Puget Sound. Following his service in the military, he had a 43-year career in the baking business. He began working at Buchan's Bakery and then Gai's Bakery. He started at the bottom and worked his way up--scraping bread pans then promoted to salesman and supervisor. While raising his family and working full time, Ed made an academic commitment to attend night school to further his education. At the age of 42, he graduated from Shoreline Community College in 1976 with an AA Degree in Labor Studies and Economics. In 1977, he ran for Business Agent for Local Union 227 which represented the baking industry employees and won. With an election every three years, he remained a union official and retired as the principal officer, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 227 in 2000. As an elected official, he always said, he was one vote away from being out of a job. Thus, he lived below his means and could be labeled as a little frugal. He was the king of recycling before it was even a thing! His disciplined, dedicated and determined spirit kept him elected and employed for over two decades of his career because he was a strong, positive leader who valued people and treated them with respect, kindness, and dignity. When Ed walked into a room his engaging personality won the affection of those around him.
Edward was blessed with an active family and raised his three girls who he adored with Victoria in Shoreline, WA. Pamela LaRae, Cynthia Kay, and Corinne Michelle kept them on their toes. When Ed wasn't at work, you could find him with his family, on the golf course telling jokes with his buddies, enjoying his summer cabin on Camano Island, hitting the ski slopes, traveling with Victoria, playing with grandkids, or volunteering for different organizations. He was a Teamster, Mason, and Shriner. He volunteered 15 years for the YMCA Board. He was a member of the Everett Golf and Country Club. He served at the Calvin Presbyterian Church. He found great joy in organizing golf tournaments and raising funds for different causes. He loved people, programs and valued being part of something bigger than himself. He was continually appointed to new positions and boards for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters because he understood teamwork and could handle tackling the tough stuff.
After Ed and Victoria retired, they built a home in Coulee City, WA, where Ed loved small-town living and even built a sport court for the grandkids and neighbor kids to come over to hang out. Last spring, his wife of 67 years and partner in life, Victoria passed away. The months to follow were hard, but he was such a trooper and still found happiness and approached each day with a cheerful and joyful heart. Clearly, Edward lived a wonderful life and wished for nothing at the end because he knew what was important--faith, family, and friends. On March 6, 2023, at the age of 88, Edward passed away peacefully at 4:57 AM at Rockwood Senior Living Community in Spokane, WA with family by his side.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Teddy and Esther Tyler, brothers, Richard Tyler and Frank Tyler, infant son, Edward Gordon Tyler, Jr, his loving wife, Victoria Elinor Tyler. He is survived by his three children, Pamela Tyler (Rock) Cindy Pridemore (Dave) and Corinne Isaak (Brian), brother, Charles Douglas Tyler, and his amazing grandchildren Alexandria McInnes, Arianna McInnes, Samantha Dale (Jordan), Sabrina Pridemore, Tabitha Pridemore, Madeline Hodges (Flash), Monique O'Neill (Connor), Maguire Isaak, Marianna Isaak, and Mallory Isaak.
In lieu of flowers, please remember Ed through the Edward and Victoria Tyler Scholarship at the Columbia Basin Foundation or the Shoreline Public School Foundation. A funeral service with military honors is planned on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery at 11:00 AM, Medical Lake, WA. Following the service, a 'tee time' has been reserved at the Manito Golf and Country Club for family and friends to break bread and shoot the breeze Tyler style.