Earl Allen Tyson

He will be buried with military honors at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, with services at 12:30 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church and a reception following.

Earl was born in Dawson, Texas on April 21, 1921 -- San Jacinto Day. As a child he thought everyone celebrated his birthday with a state holiday. The youngest of 5, Earl was the son of schoolteachers Archibald Bryant Tyson and Ethel Cobb.

He graduated in 1937 from Denton High School, where he was a trumpet player in the band and active in theatre. He attended North Texas State University before joining the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served for four years, returning to North Texas State to finish a business degree in 1949.

Earl started his career at Rauscher Pierce Refsnes in Dallas, and sold stocks and bonds for Eppler, Guerin & Turner and Pollack & Fosdick in Houston, before becoming vice president for investments at Southern National Bank. He and his family moved to Austin in 1978, where he worked in the investments division of Austin National Bank. Later he was co-founder of Austin Satellite Television, Austin’s second largest cable company, and Credit Card Services, an eyeglass wholesale buying group.

On Aug. 3, 1947 Earl married the love of his life, Rudell “Rudy” Loftin. They were married for 52 years, until her death in 2000. Earl and Rudy were well known and admired for the strong love and the unfailing support they gave their children.

He is survived by his son Chris Tyson, daughter Kim Tyson Cook, their spouses, Delyn Tyson, Andrew Cook; and seven grandchildren: Alex Tyson, Stefanie Cook, Elizabeth Cook, Nick Tyson, Michael Cook, Loftin Tyson and Anyston Tyson. His immediate family also included Joy Tyson, his former daughter-in-law, who spent countless hours tending to him during his last months, and his niece Betsy Tyson. Earl was also the father of Stevie Tyson, who died at age 17 in Georgetown, TX.

Beyond the details of a life well lived, were the parts that really made him a special Dad, Grandad and “Earl The Pearl” – a moniker he liked to use after his wife’s death.

Dad always enjoyed making others laugh. He would seek out people to relay the latest joke at the bank, cut out cartoons and copy them en masse to mail for friends, and regularly call his cadre of old friends. He loved pulling out an “Earl The Pearl” business card and handing one to the Randall’s grocery clerk to swipe, or showing off a Social Security card with his first job at the “Juicy Pig Stand.”

He loved people and never failed to ask “Where are you from?” trying to connect them to some Texas town where he’d traveled to sell municipal bonds.

Earl loved music and dancing, never failing to grab an attractive lady’s arm and swing her into a few good steps. He loved Big Band music, Bing Crosby movies and musicals. He liked to sit down at the family piano and pick out a tune, usually “Goodnight, My Someone.” Later in life he regularly called on Saturday evenings to remind his family that the “Lawrence Welk Show” would again be on TV.

He loved playing dominos and bridge with friends, and after Rudy’s passing, enjoyed playing with partners at the Austin Bridge Club. For Earl, it was about enjoying and entertaining others, not about the competition of the game.

Grandad loved gardening and would putter around his yard, or his children’s, pulling off dead flower branches, raking oak leaves and enjoying the birds. He bought bags of birdseed to feed the critters in the backyard. He delighted in his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments and was the Photographer–in-Chief for the entire extended family. Grandad maintained his upbeat attitude and enthusiasm for Wally’s milkshakes and spending time with his family and friends right up until the end of his life.

He was a lifelong Baptist, although his religious practices mainly were to watch two TV church services on Sundays, and share time with his daughter’s family at Covenant choir events.

He probably would say he lived to 90 because he chose to see the lighter side of life. Grandad maintained a positive outlook even during difficult and worrisome times. He always saw the big picture -- that happiness comes from a close family.

He died at home on Good Friday with his family, supported by Hospice Austin, one day after reaching that special birthday. The family requests that those wishing to make a donation in Dad’s name send it to help others through Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78759.