Gordon’s Obituary
After a very brief bout of pneumonia, Gordon Hayhurst Tyler passed away peacefully on June 2, 2021 at the Brantford General Hospital. Gordon was 94 and just two weeks short of his 95th birthday. Gordon lived life on his own terms, living in his own home right up to the end, and as he often would say, had a “most wonderful and blessed life”. He was predeceased by his loving wife Vera (2016) and his son Brook (2017). Loving father (“Pops”) to Scott and his wife Lynda of Pelham, Ontario and proud grandfather to Jenna, Mallory, Kendra and Michael.
Gordon was born to Norman and Sarah (“Florrie”) Tyler on June 16, 1926 in a bush camp in Northern Saskatchewan where he acknowledged his life as a blessed person began. The youngest in the family, Gordon admitted to be spoiled by his mother in particular. As a very young man, Gordon left to join Canada’s battle of World War II and as a result of his young age was sent to Northern Ontario to guard prisoners at POW camps. After serving his time in the military, Gordon headed south to attend art school in Toronto and begin his career, first as a window store display artist and then on to a graphic artist, notably at Cockshutts in Brantford. Having met his future wife while in Toronto, Gordon and Vera Shakotko married in 1952 and moved to Brantford, where they built their first home near Mt. Pleasant. In the early 1960s Gordon would be instrumental in creating what would become the graphic arts program at Mohawk College. Gordon served as an instructor for twenty-nine years to students who admired and loved the man who was never without his signature colourful bowtie.
Gordon will long be remembered as a very gifted water-colour artist who most enjoyed painting prairie scenes from his youth and northern Ontario scenes. Gordon always had a love for the north whether it was taking the family camping or moose hunting at Lake Nipigon with his big freighter canoes. Never losing his keen eye sight and steady hand, Gordon continued to paint well in to his 90s and in fact was putting the finishing touches on a recreated stage coach painting at the time of his passing.
Gordon shall also be most fondly remembered as a man who was never lost for words. He was a great story teller and was truly at his happiest when talking to people – family, friend, neighbour, acquaintance, stranger – it mattered not to Gordon! Perhaps this explains why his walk around the neighbourhood or going to church would often take him many hours.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to the DWAYNE D. BUDGELL Funeral Home. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and subsequent restrictions on gathering a Private Family Service will be held. Rev. Wayne Budgell will officiate. Interment will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery. In Gordon’s memory, donations to Brantford First Baptist Church (www.firstbaptistbrantford.com/) would be appreciated by the family.
Online donations and condolences may be made at www.budgellfuneralhome.ca
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Gordon Hayhurst Tyler June 16 1927 June 02 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Paris, Province: Ontario