Janice Luella Tyler

Janice (Jan L.) Luella Tyler, “a person,” age 81, dear sister and aunt, left her “earth suit” and flew to heaven in the full moon morning sky, September 29, 2023.

Jan was born in Monterey Park, Los Angeles, CA to Shirley Ellen (Blackmer Freeman) Tyler and Rufus Lloyd Tyler. She was born on the birthday of her maternal grandmother, Eva Luella Heaps, September 10, 1942.

Jan was the first child of eight born to the Tyler family. Her surviving siblings are Anne Tyler Cloud (Bob), Timothy Neil Tyler (Joan Wesley), Trudy Tyler Barnes (Gary), Sue Tyler Alder (Darryl), and Mary Beth Tyler Hoel (Joe).

During her life, Jan lived in California, Idaho, Washington, Arizona and Utah. She received her BS from Brigham Young University, her master’s degree in counseling from Arizona State University, and did her Doctoral studies at the University of Utah. Jan was an amazing vocalist, pianist, and organist. She loved playing basketball, dancing, traveling, and read and owned thousands of books. She didn’t have time for fiction, and particularly enjoyed studying women’s history.

Jan was a champion of people! Whether she was wisely counseling her seven younger siblings, encouraging her 24 nieces and nephews, or fighting for the rights of forgotten or under represented individuals, Jan was a lifter and an educator in all facets of her life. She was an amazing gift-giver, and financially generous.

In her professional life, Jan was the founder and director of the BYU Women’s Studies Department. She also worked for the Utah State Social Services, was the Assistant Dean of Students at Weber State, and worked in Human Resources for the Utah State Board of Education. Jan was influential in Utah State Legislation and served as the State Chairperson for the Equal Rights Amendment. She also had a strong connection with Indigenous American Tribes.

Jan actively supported charitable causes, such as The Ronald McDonald House, Tapestry Against Polygamy, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and Odyssey House while also supporting Red Butte Gardens and the University of Utah Special Collections. She especially enjoyed volunteering at Primary Children’s Hospital holding babies when their families were not able to be with them.

Jan had a happy personality and a good sense of humor. She was an expert voice impersonator of Donald Duck and Louis Armstrong and had a special affinity for grey cats, sharing her life with five of them.

Jan retired early to care for her youngest sister Shauna, and then later her father R. Lloyd Tyler.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Shirley and Lloyd, and her siblings Shauna Rae Tyler, and Rufus Lloyd Tyler II (Jennifer Beito Tyler).

The family expresses appreciation to the kind staff and care givers at The Wheatland Village, especially Kasey Burbank for her unfaltering and genuine care of Jan during the last ten months of her life.

Jan’s Celebration of Life will be held Friday, October 6, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., at The Wheatland Village Chapel, 1500 Catherine St, Walla Walla, WA 99362. Interment will follow at Blue Mountain Memorial Gardens, College Place, WA.

Donation may be made to Best Friends Animal Society-Utah, J. Willard Marriott Library-Special Collections, the Red Butte Gardens, The Ronald McDonald House, Tapestry Against Polygamy, Odyssey House, or Primary Children’s Hospital through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362. In addition, friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.