Vinia Cora Crawford Tyler

Vinia Cora Crawford Tyler, 100, of Atkins, passed away Wednesday, January 7, 2015, in Atkins. She was born March 26, 1914, to Lillo Craig and Minnie Cordelia Wright Crawford in Newton County, Arkansas. She was the 8th child in the sibling line of 11 children consisting of Claud Lee, John Jackson, one infant child unnamed, Roxie Ann, James William (Bill), Joseph Franklin (Joe), Eunice LaVada Parks, Robert Rufus, Lottie Belle Ferguson, and Viola Delle Crawford. Mrs. Tyler attended the Oakland and Hopewell one-room schools until she entered the 8th grade in the Atkins Public School. She graduated from AHS in 1934 with 28 other students. In 1936 she married Bonner Borden Tyler, son of Virgil Othel and Carrie Lee Travis Tyler. They lived the majority of their married life in the Union Grove Community northeast of Atkins on land purchased in 1948 from Elmer Boyd. In addition to working at the Atkins Pickle Plant, she helped Mr. Tyler with the farm where they raised cattle, land crops, and a large garden. Mrs. Tyler and her husband followed the activities of their three grandchildren with great affection and enthusiasm acquiring young friends through these activities. Mr. Tyler died in January 1991. They had been married 54 years. Mrs. Tyler was active in her church, serving as Sunday School Teacher, Clerk of the Church, and member of the local, district, and state Women For Christ (formerly Women's Auxiliary) where she served as an officer in many positions of the auxiliary until she was no longer able to attend. She was instrumental in helping organize the Young People's Auxiliary (YPA) at the Union Grove Free Will Baptist Church. As a deacon's wife, she prepared and served many Sunday meals to visitors to the church. The desserts for Sunday lunch were prepared on Saturday and the Sunday lunch meal was prepared early on Sunday morning before going to Sunday School and Church. Mrs. Tyler retired from the Atkins Pickle Plant in 1976 having worked there for 25 years. During the first year of retirement, she quilted 24 quilts. As word spread of her quilting, she was privileged to quilt for many people who became her friends. Later she worked part-time for Martha and Freddy Bowden at Martha's Country Kitchen and then at Lemley Funeral Home. Mrs. Tyler traveled in several states of the USA, including Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, California, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, as well as visiting Washington D.C.; on one trip, she traveled into Canada. Mrs. Tyler accepted Jesus as her Savior and Lord in 1934. She, along with 27 other people, was baptized in Carter's pond in the Blackwell area. These folks were transported for baptism by the Pastor of the Union Grove Free Will Baptist Church, the Rev. John Reel, on the back of a flatbed truck. She has been a member of the Union Grove Free Will Baptist Church, First Free Will Baptist Church of Atkins and lastly attended First Free Will Baptist Church of Russellville. Mrs. Tyler is preceded in death by her husband, Bonner Borden Tyler; her parents; all her siblings; and granddaughter, Carla Ann Hill. Survivors are two daughters, Bonita and husband Jimmy Hill, and LorNeva and husband Bill Pinion; grandchildren, Ty and wife Liz Hill, Craig and wife Gail Pinion, and Carin and husband Cody McNabb; great-grandchildren, Joseph Tyler Pinion, Lilyanna Hope Pinion, Chloe Grace McNabb, Ronan Tyler Hill, and Champ Isaac McNabb; step-great-grandchildren, Josh and Justin Avery and Sarah and Chrissy Poulton; two sisters-in-law, Mary Tyler Hill McMaster and Burmell Gregory Crawford; brother-in-law, Robert (Bob) Boyd and wife Phyllis; and two step-great-grandchildren, Claire and Kylee. Funeral services are 1 p.m., Saturday, January 10, 2015, at Lemley Chapel with Mrs. Jimmy Lee (Mary Ann) Chronister officiating. Burial is in Oakland Cemetery north of Atkins under the direction of Lemley Funeral Service of Atkins. Visitation begins at noon Saturday one hour prior to services. Pallbearers are James David Parks, Allen Crawford, Carol Norris, Freddy Bowden, Shane Kasper, and Mark Gotcher. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her honor may be made to the Oakland Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 440, Atkins, Ark. 72823 or to Atkins Emergency Response Team, c/o Centennial Bank, P.O. Box 157, Atkins, Ark. 72823. Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com.