Grace Harris Durant Tyson

Grace Harris Durant Tyson – an 85 year-old lifelong resident of Mobile passed away at her home on Friday, October 21, 2011. Mrs. Tyson was a member of the Murphy High School class of 1944 where she excelled in music, including the violin and piano, and athletics, setting records as a competitive swimmer. She graduated from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA where she majored in Theater Arts and Music. Upon her return to Mobile, Mrs. Tyson taught at Robert E. Lee and Elizabeth Fonde Elementary Schools. She traveled extensively throughout Europe as a scout leader attending many Girl Scout Conferences. Mrs. Tyson was later named the director of Scoutshire Woods Girl Scout Camp. She also worked as an agent with Banker’s Life Insurance Company (now Principal Mutual Insurance). Mrs. Tyson was a longtime, active member of Government Street Presbyterian Church where she served a deacon, taught Sunday school, and sang in the choir. She was also a life member of Presbyterian Women. Mrs. Tyson was very involved in the arts in the Mobile area, having played violin in the Mobile Symphony and performed with the Joe Jefferson Players. She was active for many years with the American Legion Auxiliary and the Daughters of the Nile affiliated with Shriner’s International. Mrs. Tyson was utterly devoted to her family and, according to her husband, “was the inspiration behind all of her family’s accomplishments.” She was preceded in death by her parents, William Louis Durant and Grace Harris Durant; brother, William Louis Durant, Jr.; daughter, Mary Mighell Tyson Duffy; and granddaughter, Holly Duffy. Mrs. Tyson is survived by her beloved husband of 60 years, John M. Tyson; children: John M. Tyson, Jr. (Elizabeth K.), William J. Tyson (Debra O.), Richard M. Tyson (Tracy K.), Grace D. Tyson, Robert C. Tyson (Sandra J.), Adrian M. Tyson, and Elizabeth Tyson Ray (Paul); grandchildren: K. Elizabeth Tyson, Jeanne C. Tyson, Ashley Tyson Johnson (Peter), Emily Tyson, William Tyson, Maggie Tyson, Grace Bankston Castronova, Johnathan G. Bankston, Robert C. Tyson, Jr. (Heather), Angel Tyson, John Price Tyson, Harry Paul Ray, Jr. and Hunter Tyson Ray; four great-grandchildren: Lillian Grace Johnson, Henry Felix Johnson, Grace Cecilia Castronova, and Alivia Tyson; brother, Robert Norman Durant (Marie); sister, Mary Louise Carter; her “adopted Russian” children throughout the world, especially Katya Tippy; many other relatives and friends. The family would like to thank Dr. Bill Hamilton and all Mrs. Tyson’s wonderful caregivers for all of their support and service. Funeral services will be held from Government Street Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, at 1 p.m. The family will receive friends at the church from 11 a.m. until the service hour. Interment will be in Magnolia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Educational Fund at Government Street Presbyterian Church, 300 Government St., Mobile, AL 36602 or the Abba Shrine Crippled Children’s Transportation Fund, 7701 Hitt Rd., Mobile, AL 36695. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com. Arrangements by Radney Funeral Home,3155 Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama 36606.