Nancie Lee Tyler, 76, of La Grange Texas, quietly passed away Sunday, November 27th, 2016 under the compassionate care of Kindred Hospice at St David’s Hospital and Rehab of Austin where she had been a patient since September 23rd.
Nancie was born on January 4th, 1940, in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, the eldest daughter of Nelson A. “Casey” and Sara Louise “Sally” Fenner Jones. She attended school in Catawissa, Pennsylvania until the family moved to Texas in 1954. She graduated from Kyle High School, Class of 1957. She started her work career as a mermaid at Aquarena Springs, San Marcos, where she swam with Ralph the pig and was an assistant to P.J. Allen in Kyle decorating floats for parades. Nancie married Kenneth Doyle Tyler in October, 1959 and remained a Kyle resident until the family removed to Birmingham, Alabama in 1965. While living in Alabama, she kept her home and hearth, raised three children, became a lifelong active member of the American Baha’i Faith Community and worked for a time for Protective Life Insurance. She returned to Texas, moving to Fayette County in 1996, where she owned and operated Paperbacks Bookstore, was an active Friend of the Library and a dedicated volunteer at 2nd Chance Emporium.
At heart, Nancie was an eccentric artist and collector known for her generosity, humor and wit.
Her homes were always open to family and friends. She took pleasure and delight from all things beautiful, inventive and quirky, interior decorating/arts and crafts, country western music, books and magazines and good meals, especially when surrounded by those she loved.
Nancie is survived by her husband of 57 years, Kenneth Doyle Tyler, two children, Kennan Arthur Tyler and Tyanna Lee Tyler of La Grange, grandchildren, Kennan Arthur Tyler, II and Brittani Kaprice Franklin, of Bessemer, AL., Tyler Earl Frederick of Austin and Casey Red Eubanks of Hoover, AL., great granddaughter Nevaeh Mooney, many nephews and nieces, sisters Barbara Jones Smith and Sara Jones Bagby of La Grange and special friend and cousin Leslie N. Young, of Kyle.
She is preceded in death by her parents and son Aaron Kyle Tyler.
A private family celebration of life will be held for those who remain to rejoice her memory.