Kenneth R Tyson

age of 85.

Dr. Tyson was born in 1936 in Houston, TX. At the age of 16, he began college at the University

of Texas at Austin. A scholar as well as an athlete, he played baseball while in college and set

his sights on a career in medicine. After 3 years of undergraduate studies, he started medical

school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. After graduating UTMB in 1960,

he went on to complete five years of surgical residency and then his fellowship at Boston

Children’s Hospital. He returned to UTMB in 1967 and established the Pediatric Surgery Service

within the Division of General Surgery. Dr. Tyson performed many firsts at UTMB including the

first successful congenital heart surgery and kidney transplant in a child.

In 1980 Dr. Tyson and his family moved to Sacramento, CA where he was the only pediatric

surgeon in community practice in the Sacramento region. His practice grew as he recruited two

partners and under his leadership this team was able to provide excellent pediatric care to the

Sacramento community.

After retiring in 1991, Dr. Tyson and his wife Sue moved back to Texas. Dr. Tyson had many

hobbies and interests that he was able to pursue after his retirement from medicine. He took two

years to build a fishing boat with his own two hands, and several years later he obtained his

pilot’s license. He loved nature and ultimately he and his wife Sue moved to the Texas Hill

Country where he was able to fully enjoy his beautiful natural surroundings, and he cherished

spending time there with his kids and grandkids.

Dr. Tyson was known far and wide for his generous spirit. He was always quick to offer his

knowledge, wisdom, and expertise to anyone who needed it, and as a man of faith he was a

trusted spiritual advisor and loyal friend to those in his community.

Dr. Tyson is survived by his wife of fifty years Sue, his brother Michael and wife Judy, nephew

Michael and niece Michelle, cousin Valerie, and his children Deborah, Kenneth, Michael, and

Jill, and five grandchildren Christopher, Phoebe, Micah, Kendall, and Anderson.

Donations in his memory may be made to the following charitable organizations:

UTMB Health: www.UTMB.edu

Boston Children’s Hospital: www.childrenshospital.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com