Mr. Kelvin R. Tyson Sr.

The Obituary Kelvin Roosevelt Tyson Sr. Kelvin was born January 5, 1957, in Reading, Pennsylvania, to Bessie and Roosevelt Tyson. He was the baby and only boy and never lacked for the attention of his parents or siblings. He was educated in the Reading School District and grew up attending St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Kelvin had a good heart, but he was at war between the spiritual and the carnal. He spent his youth and much of his adult life involved in unhealthy activities. His life sounded like Scriptures in Romans 7:14-15, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do, I allow not: but what I hate, that do I.” Later in this passage it says, “For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil that I would not, that I do.” He loved to drive and completed training to be a Tractor/Trailer Truck Driver. He also drove taxi cabs for a while and worked various odd jobs including being a caddie on the golf course. Kelvin had a special fondness for music, watching television and going to church. Foremost, he loved being “Pop-Pop” and spending time with his grandchildren. Early in his adult life he joined St. John Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized but his attendance waned, and he returned to activities that cost him his freedom, his family’s home and relationships. At this point, he began to reflect upon his life and the dangers the Lord had saved him from. He moved to Harrisburg, PA, to live with his sister for two years. During this time, he joined The First Baptist Church of Steelton and remained active in the church until his return to Reading. He renewed his membership with St. John Missionary Baptist Church and became involved in church and community activities and renewed his relationships with his children and grandchildren. He secured housing for himself and his daughter and her four children and took an active role in their care and development. He would even walk to church if he could not get a ride. He also walked with his grandchildren to church in an attempt to get them involved in church. He loved and cared for his grandchildren and could usually be seen with at least one under foot. In 2013, Kelvin was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and underwent treatment including chemotherapy. This did not deter his church attendance. He rarely missed church even when he was weak from treatments. He was active in the Men of Honor Ministry and helped to serve the Community Thanksgiving Dinner a week before he got so sick he was unable to care for himself. At that point, his daughter took him to the hospital, and she and his sons visited and kept up with his treatments and recommendations. Several family meetings were held with the indication of a poor prognosis. Kelvin was present at the second family meeting when medical staff again offered comfort care and Hospice as the recommended treatment. At that time, Kelvin suggested that he be transferred to Penn State Hershey Medical Center where he was scheduled for stem cell transplant treatment in January. He also insisted that he have a Bible nearby stating, “Even the cowboys have got their Bibles when it was time to die.” He was given a Bible. When asked which passage he wanted to hear, he replied, “Matthew Chapter 15.” He was transferred and the Hershey Medical Teams did tests and, unfortunately, could not offer more encouragement. During his months of hospitalization, God worked mightily. At one point, it did not seem that Kelvin would make it to Christmas. God stepped in and restored his mental status and strength, and Kelvin was alert, oriented and asking for macaroni and cheese. On Christmas day, he was sitting in a recliner in the hospital eating macaroni and cheese, greens and sweet potato pie, though he only ate bites of each. His systems continued to fail, but God allowed him to witness the New Year and his birthday on January 5th. On his birthday, he was again alert, oriented, laughing and joking as he was visited by family and friends at the Hershey Medical Center. Shortly after midnight that evening he looked over at the lounge chair in his room and said, “Gwen, I am so tired.” Later when the nurses came in to check his vitals he again looked over to ask, “Gwen, are you alright?” and “Are you sure?” Even in his sickness, he still worried about others. He cried when he talked to his daughter on the phone and admitted, “I miss my babies.” At one point when his sister told him she would not be spending Saturday night with him because of church, he insisted the doctor had cleared him to attend church. He became agitated when it was explained that he could have the chaplain visit, but he could not leave the hospital or attend church. After his birthday, he slept most of the time, day and night. He would awaken when examined or if touched or spoken to but complained of pain when awake until he began Comfort Care and was given medication for pain. Then he slept without moaning, but did not talk or interact unless he was hurt by some procedure or being turned or cleaned. On Saturday, January 25, 2014, Kelvin triumphantly fell asleep in the Lord. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roosevelt and Bessie Tyson; two sisters, Lillie Mae Auston, Theresa Ingram; uncles, Louis Kneece, Harold Tyson, Kenneth Tyson; and aunts, Idella Patterson and Ethel Mabry. Kelvin will be missed, but never forgotten by his loving family of three sons, Andre Archie of Capitol Heights, MD, Jermeel Omar Tyson and Kelvin Tyson Jr., both of Reading; one daughter, Kelisha Tyson of Reading; two sisters, Senada McCoy of Reading and Gwendolyn Manning of Harrisburg; sixteen grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Giving God all Glory, Honor and Praise, The Family His life will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Monday, February 3, 2014, at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Reading, with viewing/visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment will be held at Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reading. Professional services entrusted to Wallace Funeral Directors, Harrisburg. wallacfd.com

Tributes

Mr. Kelvin R. Tyson Sr.

January 5, 1957 - January 25, 2014