Maurice Francis Tyler, Jr.

Maurice Francis Tyler, Jr., age 88, passed away September 12, 2019 at his home in Cordova, TN.

A memorial service for Maurice will be held on Friday, September 20, 2019, at 1:30 P.M. in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with an inurnment to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Enid, MS. Visitation will begin at 1:00 P.M.

Maurice was born on September 10, 1931, to the late Maurice Francis Tyler, Sr. and Ina Brown Tyler in Memphis, TN. In his early years he was raised in Drew, MS where he enjoyed being outdoors and hunting. After high school he went on to graduate from the Columbia Military Academy, Columbia, TN. He also attended Vanderbilt, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

When joining the U.S. Navy he was a part of the NROTC program Class of ’56 USNA in Annapolis, Maryland Commissioned Ensign USN Career included Aviator, Pensacola, FL, Surface Navy and Submariner in West PAC during the “Cold War.” He served on the USS Blackfin and USS Tang which earned a Presidential Commendation from John F Kennedy, and the USS Odax Atlantic.

He returned to the Academy to be the 18th Company Officer in 1963 for two years. One of the few officers in the United States Navy where he earned his wings as an Aviator flying the F9 Panther. He also earned his Dolphins as a submarine officer.

When Maurice retired as a Navy Commander he moved to Summerville, S.C. and eventually moving back to Mississippi and Memphis, TN where he became a successful Real Estate Land Developer.

In retirement Maurice served the Navy as President of the Memphis Chapter of MOAA and in 2005 the President of MOAA for the State of Tennessee. He also worked in Pastoral Care Work and on the Vestry of Grace St Luke’s in Memphis.

Maurice was of Methodist faith and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Those he leaves behind to cherish his legacy includes his wife of 60 years, Gail Ann Maitre Tyler of Cordova, TN.; three children, Ina Jane Tyler of Elizabethtown, KY, Carol Lynn Tyler of Cordova, TN, and Maurice “Bubba” Tyler, III (Anita) of Eads, TN; one brother, Dr. Henry Brown Tyler of Jackson, MS; and three grandchildren, Maurie Tyler, Walker Tyler, and Charlie Tyler.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by one daughter, Patricia Ann Tyler and one sister, Mary Jane Jones.

Donations can go to American Cancer Society in the name of Patricia or Carol Tyler or to the Share the Care Fund of the Methodist Healthcare Alliance.