Joyce Langdon Tyler

Joyce Tyler Obituary

Joyce Tyler passed away peacefully Jan. 22, 2023, the day after the funeral for her husband of 69 years, Ed Tyler.

Joyce was adopted as a baby by Dorothy and Charles Langdon of Portland in 1933 and was an only child of loving parents. She is survived by her son, David (Sandy); daughters, Laura (Bill), Felicia (Bruce); six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Joyce graduated from Grant High School along with her great friends Vance Burnett and Mike Lundy. She was a member of Delta Zeta sorority at the University of Oregon and made many lifelong friends. She graduated in 1954 with what she described as her “Mrs. Degree” as many women in her opinion attended the university in the hope of finding a suitable husband to marry, which she did, marrying Ed Tyler in 1953.

As Ed embarked on his career in education, Joyce did substitute teaching. Three children soon followed, and Joyce was a full-time mom while also keeping up appearances as the Superintendent/ Principal’s wife in a small town — gardening which she hated and entertaining which she loved. With the three children finally in school Joyce embarked on a very successful and award-winning career as an employment counselor with Snelling and Snelling Employment Agency, first in Eugene and then in Portland. Joyce then joined Paine Weber Brokerage as a stockbroker at a time when women stockbrokers were far from common. Together with Shari Nelson her Registered Assistant she built a large clientele, many of whom became lifelong friends as well. Joyce retired in 1998, transitioning her clients to Shari.

Joyce and Ed loved to travel, seeing the world with their friends Corky and Jerry Kirkpatrick. For many years following her retirement Joyce, along with Ed or other family members in tow, did financial lectures on cruise ship sea days. Throughout their lives Joyce and Ed loved to entertain, and they developed a wide circle of good friends. Joyce also believed in giving back and her postretirement volunteer activities included the Goose Hollow Family Shelter, Hospice, Washington Park Information Services, Oregon Convention Center Information Services, the Oregon Beer Festival, several years volunteering with the Salvation Army providing resources and support to the needy, and she loved mentoring young women starting their careers.

Joyce was a force of nature — curious, determined, plain-spoken, smart, optimistic, persistent and engaging. She taught her children and those she mentored to be independent, open-minded, and curious. She was the first to welcome and introduce newcomers, something so appreciated by them. Late in her life as her body was failing her, Joyce’s mind remained sharp. Her stated purpose in her later years was “taking care of my husband” through his struggle with Alzheimer’s, which she did until the end, passing away shortly after Ed.

Feel free to join us for a graveside celebration of life at 11:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at River View Cemetery. It was Joyce’s wish not to have another reception as the reception for Ed was such a wonderful time to see friends. The gravesite is just down the hill from the parking lot by the cemetery office, at 300 S. Taylor’s Ferry Road. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Salvation Army or charity of your choice.

Please visit the guestbook portion of this site and enter a special memory or message. Thank you.

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7 replies on “Joyce Langdon Tyler”

We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Riverview Abbey Funeral Home
Join in honoring their life – plant a memorial tree

what a joy and privilege to have shared a small part of Joyce’s life. She exemplified what we would all like to be: curious, smart, open and caring, opinionated without apology with a sharp wit and great sense of humor. Joyce was truly “A force of nature.”
With Ed’s passing and funeral, her last job (taking care of Ed) was done and she was free to be with him once again on the other side.
Their gifts to us, as a couple and individually, will long be remembered and they will remain in my heart forever.

Joyce’s obituary is right on, as though she wrote it herself…and maybe she did. Joyce was unique in a wonderful way (and aren’t we all). Corky and I were friends of Joyce and Ed for 50+ years: I worked with Ed at NW Ed Lab; they were next-door neighbors for a time; we traveled together; enjoyed dinners at their home with their many other friends. I will remember, and miss them both.

Letter of Remembranceâ€”Joyce Tyler

What a shock to hear that my beloved friend is gone. She is always so present in my mind that it is inconceivable that she should depart this earth. How sweet, though, that she was there for her beloved husband Ed to the very end, and then she left us after his memorial service.
There were only a few of us as female brokers at PaineWebber when I joined in 1980 among a sea of men who dominated that profession. We had to work longer and harder because we didnâ€™t gain new clients just by playing golf with them. We were, however, pillars of trust and intelligence mixed with compassion that secured clients, their friends and relatives that remained throughout our long careers. I had moved to Mountain Park as a single parent, so I often drove Joyce to and from work in Portland. Joyce and Ed had Zeek # 1 (to be followed by many other namesakes). We would laugh and solve the problems of the world on our 15-minute drive each way. I called her â€˜CCâ€™, which stood for Congenial Companion. I had been doing lectures on Princess Cruises for several years and was asked to do a tour but couldnâ€™t get away, so I asked Joyce if she wanted to do it; she was part of Toastmasters and had perfected her skills of speaking in front of a crowd, and she did such a marvelous job that she continued accepting their invitations for years thereafter.
Joyce and I did Jazzercize together at the Mountain Park Community Center; we needed the physical release after long mental days. Even after her retirement, Joyce would walk down the hill from their West Hills condo to Multnomah Athletic Club where she had a personal trainer to keep up her fitness routine.
Even before Joyce retired, she â€˜gave upâ€™ things. The one I remember most is that she declared that she would no longer iron. That was itâ€”no more! She knew how to simplify her life to focus on things that were more important.
Through the years, and especially in their retirement, their Christmas cards have been treasures. Simply â€œFrom Our House To Yoursâ€ shared their sense of humor with photos around the world at famous places.
Joyce always considered herself computer challenged, and they mentored (and paid) many young students who would visit them to update their computer knowledge. They became part of the family, as were her housekeepers that remained for many years.
This recent picture (not able to attach here) is the only one on my bulletin board in my office here in Florida. She was special. We were at their Salmon Street condo, which had a rotation of art from the Portland Art Museum that made their home fresh and interesting.
My heart goes out to her precious children David, Laura, Felicia and their families during this heart-wrenching month and days ahead.
Merilee Speilberg Adams Sommers
merileesommers@gmail.com
C: 503-296-6685

Wha Ja and I met Ed and Joyce on a cruise to Mexico in 2009. We very much enjoyed spending time with them! What a lovely couple! Joyce supported Ed until the day after his funeral when she passed away. May God bless their souls.

I believe my husband and I met Ed and Joyce Tyler on a Rick Steves European GASP tour in 1998 which took us to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Prague. We enjoyed their intelligent conversations, quick wit and generally liked being in their company. Both lived an enriched life together. During the Millennium year, ten of us, including the Tyler’s – all of us having met on previous Rick Steves’ tours – went on another Rick Steves tour, this time to the Scandinavian countries. We were the only Canadians on these trips, but we were welcomed and included by our friendly American travelling companions.

Like others, we, too, looked forward to the Tyler’s annual Christmas card depicting some of their recent travels; often included would be a note about family and their activities. The cards were special.

Coming home a few days ago after being away two months on Kauai, we were both shocked and saddened to open our mail and read of both Ed and Joyce’s passings. They were a lovely couple.