Thomas "Tom" Walton Tyler

A memorial service for Thomas Walton Tyler, 89, of Canton (formerly Mesquite), will be held 11 am Friday, January 3, 2025, at Eubank Funeral Home, Canton, TX. Inurnment will be at DFW National Cemetery.

Mr. Tyler passed away December 16, 2024 in Palestine. He was born August 26, 1935 in Dallas to Harry and Orlena Sanders Tyler.

Tom graduated from Crozier Tech High School and then served in the US Army in Germany during the Korean War. He owned and operated his own machine shop called Tyler Machine. Tom was a member of the Van Zandt County Library Genealogical Society, where he volunteered many years and loved helping people research their family roots. Tom was a previous member of The Sons of the Republic of Texas. He was the State Champion Chili Cook in 1985. His recipe was published in the hardback Southern Living Annual Recipes 1987. This was a favorite hobby and he travelled all over the country cooking his "North Texas Red". He qualified and placed many times at the World Championship Chili Cookoff in Terlingua, Texas.

Tom had several hobbies including metal detecting, scuba in the 70s, photography and woodworking. A favorite pastime was sitting in his sunroom watching and taking photos of the deer that roamed his property. He enjoyed building bird houses, furniture and artwork. He made pens out of various woods from all over the world. Always a perfectionist, his talent showed through anything he made.

Tom is preceded in death by his sister, Vivian Payne, and daughter, Debora Grace Tyler. He is survived by his daughter, Karen and Danny Searcy; stepchildren: Lisa and Kelly McCallum, Brian and Lisa Mabary, and Brenda and Jay Penn His eleven grandchildren: Jonny, Michael, Angela, Victoria, Linzie, Jacob, Laura, Linda, Jared, Alex and Taylor; and numerous great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two nieces, Cheryl and Janis, and one nephew, Gene.

The family wishes to acknowledge thanks to the caring staff at Dogwood Trails Assisted Living and his hospice team with Hospice Plus.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Veterans charity of choice.