Obituary

--- for Inyo Register 11/25/10 ---

James Preston Tyerman passed away Friday, November 19 around noon. It was just 9 days after his 63rd birthday. He spent his last moments at home with family.

He was born in Oildale, near Bakersfield, California to Gene and Alice Tyerman. He was in the Navy, stationed in Hawaii, during the Vietnam war. He moved to Bishop as a young man and was married to D.D. Merrick in 1977. They had their daughter in 1983 and their son two years later. They proudly watched their children graduate from high school and college.

Jim spent some of his best moments outdoors riding his Harley he rebuilt, racing on sand dunes in his dune buggy he made, and tinkering in his garages - including the one at his old business - Tyerman’s Tire Center. He was a supporter of the local Destruction Derbies, competing for many years and always enjoying the challenge of prepping a derby car. Basically, Jim could build and fix anything with a steering wheel and tires. In fact, he was quite the jack-of-all-trades handyman that many people turned to for assistance and advice.

He was diagnosed with an aggressive tongue cancer in October 2009. Although chemotherapy and radiation treatments helped control some of the tumor, his condition declined rapidly. The family would like to thank Roberta and Anita at Hospice and the doctors and nurses at the Rural Health Clinic for their time and care. It was a painful struggle for all to see how cancer changes the vitality of a person - especially someone with so much gusto.

Friends and family will forever tell fond memories of Jimmy, aka “Toolman Tyerman.” His strength and spirit will live on in his wife, D.D. Tyerman; his children, Joshua and Jessica Tyerman; his siblings Linda & Ron Jernigan, Diana Hamlin, and Bob Smith; his father-in-law, Jim Merrick; and his nieces & nephews, Dion & Staci Harris, Kelliann & Arnie Palu, Jason Jernigan, and David & Kristy Harris.

The family plans to spread his ashes in the spring. An informal memorial service will be held at the Palu residence, 208 Grandview Drive, on Saturday, December 4 at 3:00 p.m.