Rodger Eugene Tyree

Rodger Eugene Tyree died from Covid on April 1, 2025, at age 87 at the Nazareth Home in Louisville, KY. He was born in Nashville, TN, on Jan, 27, 1938, to Martha and William Tyree, where he was the youngest of three sons. In his early years, he lived in the country on a large farm called the Old Floyd Place in Antioch, TN, where he learned to be resourceful and inventive with older brothers, Wayne and Dale.

Rodger attended and graduated from East Nashville High School and was accepted into Vanderbilt University, where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. Rodger had a long career as an electrical engineer and didn’t retire until he was in his 70’s. He was well respected at the firms he worked for, including C & I Engineering Inc., and revered by his younger coworkers. On Aug. 11, 1967, he married Gradylene Butler, whom he adored over the next 36 years of their marriage, until her death on Dec. 30, 2003.

Rodger will be remembered for his keen intellect and genuine curiosity. He was always very interested in the people and things around him and would be sincerely interested in how his family and friends were doing, engaging them in animated conversations on a number of topics. He was passionate about electronics and loved to tinker and repair electrical devices. He was a frequent and welcomed visitor to the maintenance department at the Nazareth Home and was always willing and happy to give his assistance and advice. 

Rodger was preceded in death by his father, William Taylor Tyree, and mother, Martha Caroline Rollenhagen Tyree; brothers William Wayne Tyree and Dale Richard Tyree; niece Carol Young;  beloved wife Gradylene Tyree; and stepdaughter Rhoda Diane Giles. He is survived by nephews Terry Wayne Tyree and Steven Richard Tyree; nieces Renee Darlene Greene, Ruth Carolynne Tyree Erickson and Laura Katherine Tyree; numerous great-nephews and great-nieces; step-grandson Richard Gaines; and dear friends Keith and Sandi King, and Helen Hester. Special thanks to the Nazareth Home’s staff and residents for their loving care and friendship in the past two years. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at HermitageFH.com.