Evelyn G. Tyson

Evelyn Gean Taylor Tyson was born on June 23, 1946 in Halls, Lauderdale County, Tennessee, the middle child of nine (9), six (6) boys and three (3) girls, born to Howard Taylor and Montyne Lacy Taylor. Although she was born in Halls and her early childhood spent in Halls as well as Ripley, Tennessee a neighboring town, she was raised here in Kansas City, Missouri and attended Greenwood Elementary and Central High School.

Motherhood came early for Evelyn, being seventeen (17) when she and the love of her life Forest E. Tyson, Sr., were blessed with the birth of their first of four (4) boys.

While motherhood forced her to leave high school early, education was very important to her. After a few years of motherhood and now with two sons, she decided she was going to get her diploma. She attended the Kansas City, Missouri School District's Evening High School Program for Adults at Westport High School, oftentimes with her four (4) and five (5) year old sons Leon and Forest, Jr. in tow. She received her diploma on November 7, 1968 at the age of twenty-two (22).

Being a wife and mother was of the utmost importance to Evelyn and Forest, Sr.  It was so important that they made the decision for her not to even consider entering the workforce until (if at all) the youngest of their clan started school.

At the time the two of them began to entertain the thought of her getting a job (Leon was approaching school age), “What had happen was,” another baby boy (Micah) was conceived and then another (Terry). In all, her stay-at-home mom duties lasted over a decade.

Once Evelyn did finally decide to enter the workforce she approached her work career with the same zeal as she did wifedom and motherhood, working and retiring from State Farm Insurance after 29 years of service.

While at State Farm she took on many positions: secretary, property damage unit, and claims service representative (CSR) to name a few. When catastrophe hit their service area and their insured were in need the first person State Farm management sought out to head up the response was “ET”. The PG version of what was so eloquently expressed about “ET” as told by her former co-worker Linda McCready is, “She knew her stuff and didn’t take no mess from nobody”.

So, after raising four (4) boys and having an esteemed career one might say those were the crown jewels of her life, but that would only be half the story. The other half of the story is that “ET” poured unconditional love onto her entire Taylor and Tyson families, and the unnumberable amount of friends she claimed as family along her way through this life.

My God Bless Your Beautiful Soul For All of Eternity!

Evelyn Gean Taylor Tyson, was preceded in death by her parents Howard (1914-1971) and Montyne (Lacy) Taylor (1919-1977), husband, Forest Tyson, Sr. (1944-2024); brothers: Howard, Jr. (1934-2011); Othia (1936-2024); Louis Edward (1938-2019); and Lenford (1940-1982).

Evelyn, leaves to cherish her precious memory, adored sisters, Anna Mae Taylor and Emma Ruth Taylor (Melvin) Williams, and beloved brothers: Lawrence Taylor; Maurice (Clemetine) Taylor; Larry Taylor and Sam Taylor.

Evelyn will be missed tremendously by her four (4) sons: Forest E. (Sharon) Tyson, Jr., Leon Lamar Tyson, Micah Tyson, and T. Darnell (La’Shae) Tyson and a bonus son Rodney Lyndell (Michelle) Green.

Queen “ET” also leaves behind 21 grandchildren:

Forest Tyson, III, Tanesha Ca’reon Tyson, Kyesha Martyne Tyson (Michael) Martin, Jermaine Donta’ Tyson; Domingo Tyson, Leon Lamar Tyson, Jr., Diego Tyson, Andru Tyson; Jacqueline Peets-Graves (Timothy), L’Chelle Green (Stanley) Taylor, Rashay Green, Courtney Green, Raenelle Green; Sharae Ladene (De’Andre) Holton, Noah Tyson, Nalaya Rae Tyson; Janae Sharie Connor, Katlin, Imani Bilah-Semone Tyson, Zahara Moses, Isaiah Terrell Tyson.

27 great grandchildren:

Rhaya, Treyvion, Taviauna, Treshawn; Ka’vyea, Nadia; Kyla, D’Maurea, Braydon, Malcolm; Jamya, Jermaine, Jr.; Tayleena; JaNasia, Za’Cherya, Dawone and Darrius (twins), Leon; Zihir, Zimier; Reggie; Dean; Jayda, RaShad, Nolan, Addison, and Calirose.

3 great-great grandchildren:

India, Kayomi, and Kaiser

Queen “ET” will also be mourned by a host of nieces, nephews, and a loving extended Village!