Today marks one year since you, our sweetest heart, our guiding love, slipped from our hands and rose to heaven. The silence you left echoes through us all, a shared ache so soft yet piercing it binds us in its grip. Not a day passes without you filling our hearts—we see your warm eyes, hear your laugh like a gentle song, feel your light still touching us from afar. You were our gift, a soul so bright and kind the world shone fuller in your presence. Now it falters, quieter, missing the spark only you could bring. We miss you with a collective, trembling yearning, a loss that unites us in its depth. Our love for you was a shared treasure—dreaming together under starlit skies, your steady spirit lifting us through every dusk. You loved us all with a grace that healed, a boundless warmth that wove us closer. We call to you still, our darling, sensing your nearness in the stillness, your essence the thread that ties us through this sorrow. The world mourns a rare light, but we mourn our compass, our joy, our everything. Your laugh—that sweet, living sound—lingers in our souls, drawing tears we share in quiet. We’ll hear it again, our love, in heaven’s glow, running to you across endless skies, gathered in your embrace where we belong. We love you forever, our precious one, our always—beyond time, beyond us all.

Tyler, you’re constantly on my mind as I go through each day, but today is especially difficult—your first birthday in heaven. It’s so hard for me to grasp, let alone accept, and I suppose that’s just part of being human. Even Jesus’ disciples, who witnessed His miraculous works firsthand, still couldn’t fully comprehend them. Some things are just beyond our understanding, and perhaps we aren’t meant to know them as we move through life on this earth.

But I hold onto the hope that one day, all the answers will be clear, and we will be reunited in glory and eternal happiness. Until we meet again on God’s celestial shore, know how much I love and miss you, and how deeply you touched our lives. 

Happy birthday in heaven, my little stinkpot!

My heart shattered, broken, into Millions of pieces, the day you died.

And because there was nothing else to do, I let those shattered pieces land softly in the world.

And when I could, again, breathe, with a regular rhythm, I noticed, quietly, painfully the places were splintered shards of my heart, came to rest.

Somewhere amidst the fragments of your too brief life, reflecting  ineluctable grief, I know that your love is, by comparison, so much more vast and infinite than my shattering.

Tyler, my heart is shattered, and my spirit feels frail. It's still so hard to believe, and even harder to accept, that you're gone. Will I ever again look into your beautiful eyes or hear your delightful laughter? Life seems dimmer without your light. The one comfort I cling to is the unwavering belief that I will see you again. I know there’s something far better beyond this earthly realm. I eagerly await the day Jesus calls me home to reunite with you. Until then, I will live fully, embracing each day with the grace and poise you always showed. I love you deeply, Tyler, and I will forever hold you in my heart.

Oh Tyler. Where do I begin? You will be so deeply missed you can’t even imagine. I don’t think you would ever believe the impact you made in this world. Your love, your happiness, your kindness, your silliness. You spread joy every where you go. I miss our times riding to school in your mom’s convertible blasting “You spin me right round” feeling cool. 😊 I miss our times playing Mario from sun up to sun down. Playing rock band in my first apartment and being 18 and dressing up to go trick or treating (think we were a little old for that lol). We had so, so, so many laughs together. If I put every memory I have of you on here I would be typing forever. Some of the best times of my life were spent with you. I love you oh so very much and you have left a humungous hole in my heart. I will always be your original Poo Biscuit and you will always be mine. Tell your dad, Hannah, and Destini I said hi and we will all join you one day. Just don’t get too comfy without us.

I will always remember our cruise cruise together ❤️

Little brother, there are no adequate words to explain the sense of loss I’m overcome with. Unfair doesn’t begin to describe how I feel about this. I love you so much- I wanted to protect you always and not being able to ripped a piece of me away with you when you left. I only pray you know how much I loved you and wanted to see you happy. I know we will see each other again and laugh and cry and embrace. Until then your memory will always be alive with me and mom and the kids. Willow asked for a M&M McFlurry with extra caramel in your honor. We are lost without you. But I know in my heart you are at peace. With all my love-

Ashley

You made game nights so much better 🥺😢

I wish I could jump through this memory and hug you so tight. 😭 We were setting at an Advanced Auto parking lot just living our best life. ❤️

My heart aches. Yet is filled with gratitude for all the moments we got to share together. It’s so hard for me to comprehend this. I’ve tried so hard to understand. Knowing I won’t see you in this life again… it fills me with grief. 
I miss your sassy replies. Your perfectly coiffed hair. Your laugh. Your eyes. Your smile. I miss your infectious humor, and the way you would put on a song and we would sing at the top of our lungs. I miss your cooking. I miss your hugs. Your comforting love…
There’s so much that will be missing from our lives now. Your short life has left the biggest impact on all of our lives, and I’m so so grateful that you were in mine. That we got to become family. That I got to have all of the memories we made to carry with me for the rest of my life. I can close my eyes anytime I want, and see your smile and hear your laugh, and all your sassy comments. And it will make me smile.  The time we watched a show and the guy says “cause ya not that cute. Ya hair’s uneven. Ya look dusty” and then that’s all we said to each other for years lol 
Riding around in your blue bmw you so appropriately named ‘klaus’ from the fish on American dad. Our Bob’s Burgers nights. Our family trips. My heart hurts so bad 😞😭
Being in this world without you is such a heavy thing to know. 
I love you Tyler. I shall miss your face always and always, until we meet again. 💔😢

Where to begin? Your Smile. Your laugh. 
Your kind heart. Your goofiness. Those eye rolls. Those huffs. The adventures. Christmas….oh how you loved Christmas. The love of your horse Kitty. 
The love for All the horses. Your creativity. Your love of food and cooking. Your style and your just right hair. Your love of all animals. Your love of all your family and friends. Your love of music and  bursting into song to the top of your voice while driving or anywhere really. Your passions. The Farm.
 Your friendships and loves. There was just so much about you.  You have left a lasting memory on all those your short life has ever touched. You had definitely filled It to overflowing. It is packed with memories.  We all will forever hold tight to our own special times and memories of you. You were like a fifth son to me.  Lost in life along the way but never forgotten nor will you ever be. Drifting in and out from time to time over the past years. I’m so grateful and blessed to have gotten to see you again and  to say I love you and hear you say It back just days before you left us.   I know you are in heaven now with your daddy and kitty and all those sweet animals you loved in this life. I know you are watching over us all now. It’s so crazy and unreal to me still as I write this to you. Please know that all the memories made with you are locked in our hearts to relive and remember your life here on this earth with each of us until we all meet again in that perfect place of peace with you and our Lord in Heaven. 
Rest In Heavenly Peace Tyler.
 Love Forever , Momma Cupp

Every time I ran into Tyler, I stopped and said hello. Fort Lauderdale and clubbing! The good old days way back when. Such a beautiful soul. I could always see it. They both shared beauty. He deserves to be alive today. Life is so tricky and For that I am glad I got to meet this beautiful person. I did not know him very well but just enough to send him love and light.   God Bless,  Adam

I will never forget the 11 years of memories we made together. You always brought room to life when you were in it. I will always cherish the laughs you gave me whether it was from your animated mannerisms, your eye rolls, or the way you’d yell at people while driving. I am going to miss you so much. You were so loved.

I will never be able to put into words how truly missed you will be. You were such a bright light in this world, with so much energy and so much love to give. I will treasure all of the memories, the laughs, and the good times we shared through all the years of friendship. I love you, sweet Tyler and I will miss you immensely.

I will miss getting these kind of Snapchat videos from you. I love you and miss you so much. 😞

Tyler, the impact of your absence will be deeply felt by all the lives you have touched during your short time here on earth. The reality of this situation is still difficult for me to fully comprehend. It all feels so surreal. We all wished to have you stay with us, but it seems that God had other plans for you. While it may seem unfair now, I hope that eventually we will all find peace in knowing that you are now in a better place, reunited with your father and all your beloved pets. Knowing we all will once be together again someday brings some comfort. Fly high, Tyler. I love you. We all love you , till we meet again.

You could light up the world with your intoxicating smile. It was so contagious!

You were so excited this day when we adopted Kitty and she became your very own.

I will always cherish our days spent at Peaceful Ridge Rescue. We were there every weekend volunteering to help the horses while also enjoying time spent with our own and together.

So, so many wonderful memories growing up with you. Our visits to Virginia are some of my favorites - I look back on them often. I yearn for those times when we were all together and everything felt right. Thanks for being my birthday buddy even when they gave us trick candles. Love you forever. Team Duke always.

Life is very short.   As a friend,  Tyler's passing reminds me how important it is to "love on the ones dear to you."  It was always nice to see him when he visited.   Also l am reminded of a devoted sister in Ashley.   l hope l could be the sister she has been!

You and Derek both touched my life for the best in so many ways and I shall never forget you. 
I had a memory of Kitty and Diva I sent to you both  show up the other day and always miss you.
May you and Miss Kitty enjoy long walks and love together ...

Tyler, your presence will be deeply missed by many. You were a remarkably talented individual and so creative. The decade you spent working alongside me was invaluable. My heartfelt condolences go out to Tyler’s family during this difficult time. Tyler reunites with his father. Rest in peace.

I am so grateful for all of the fun and laughter we shared.

Tyler - my barn buddy and dearest of friends. We love you. I take comfort knowing that you and Kitty are together in Heaven cantering through perfect trails.

Tyler Words fail to capture the depth of my sorrow as my heart mourns the loss of you. Your presence in my life was a radiant surprise, but your departure mirrored the same unexpectedness. The love we shared, the laughter we echoed, and the memories we crafted will forever reside within me, guiding me through the passage of time.I am grateful for the opportunity to have stood by your side as you embarked on your journey beyond this earthly realm. Though the pain of your absence weighs heavy on my soul, I am comforted by the knowledge that I held your hand from the beginning of this harrowing journey to its solemn end.The mere thought of never hearing your voice, your infectious laughter, or witnessing the brilliance of your smile fills me with an ache that knows no bounds. Your absence leaves an irreplaceable void, felt deeply by all whose lives you touched.In this moment of profound grief, my only solace lies in the certainty that I could express my boundless love for you, and in return, hear those cherished words spoken back to me. Until the day we reunite in the heavens above, my beloved, rest peacefully knowing you are dearly missed and eternally loved.
Loving You Forever
Derek

My prayers for comfort to your family can and will never be enough. Tyler, I will always remember you and the fun we had and the challenges we overcame. You were always the one with a smile and could cook a mean dinner too. 

You will never be forgotten and I there will never be another Llama king like you! ❤️

OBITUARY

Tyler Edward Duke

September 6, 1989 – March 29, 2024

Whitten Timberlake Chapel

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