Ella “Miss Ella” Tyler

Ella “Miss Ella” Tyler, 71, Palmyra, Mo., slipped away peacefully into the arms of Jesus at 10:46 p.m., at her home, with her family by her side.

Ella Mae Tyler was born in Hannibal, Mo., on Feb. 11, 1949, the daughter of James and Mary Hughes Tyler Sr. of Palmyra. She graduated from Palmyra High School, in 1967. She attended one semester of college at Northeast Missouri State, Kirksville, Mo. She was also involved with the Progressive 63er’s 4-H group.

Ella is survived by one daughter, Katina Michelle Tyler, Palmyra; brothers, James (June) Tyler Jr., Peoria, Ill.;  Joe (Wilma) Tyler, Peoria;  and Ronald (Linda) Tyler, St. Joseph, Mo.; sisters, Patricia Tyler Allen,  Columbia, Mo.; and Mary Helen (Cryil) Buyanovsky, Lawrence, Kan.; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members; and special friends, Paula Kroeger and Dianne Leighty.

Ella was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, Reginald Wayne Tyler and Gregory Lynn Tyler.

Throughout her adult life, Ella worked for several companies and businesses. She worked at Art Craft-making maps for the Army and different places. At American Safety, beginning as a repair person working her way up to lead foreman and then assistant supervisor, she finally was named a supervisor of a production line, making seatbelts. She worked in production at Motorola and as a supervisor at Orschlen in Moberly, Mo. 

She worked in home health care for NECAC for a short time. She then opened her own daycare, Noah’s Ark Daycare, for 10 years and worked at Best Friends Daycare owned by Carla McKnight. 

Ella also worked at Palmyra Elementary School as a dishwasher, salad maker and baker. During the summer school program, she was coordinator of the lunch program. As coordinator of the special needs class, she taught them how to cook, among other things, and she continued working at the elementary school until she got sick.

She also loved to make goodies for her church friends, especially Texas sheet cake, fudge and iced sugar cookies. Her hobbies included working puzzles and putting up her Christmas village every year.

She was a charter member and attended the United Pentecostal Church of Palmyra. She loved her Jesus first and foremost. She was a true and faithful servant of God, in whom He truly blessed. She wore many, many hats, including being church secretary, and children’s ministry leader. She was also involved in card ministry, drama, sign ministry as well as junior camp leader every year. You name it, she was involved in it. 

Her biggest passion was her church family, the precious children who she cared about whole heartedly, taught, mentored and loved. This was her true heartbeat that will live on forever for all the lives she touched. 

She loved planning VBS every summer. She would start on this in early January. The moment the VBS kit arrived, she was like a kid in a candy store, excited to be looking at and anticipating how all the things in the kit would excite the children of her ministry.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Greenwood Cemetery in Palmyra. Reverend Robert Axton will officiate.

Memorials be made to the United Pentecostal Church Children’s Ministries Fund.

Online condolences may be shared at www.lewisbrothersfuneralchapel.com.

The family is being served by Lewis Brothers Funeral Chapel in Palmyra.