Rev. J. Ray Tyson, 86, of Yellow Springs, went Home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on
Monday, October 1, 2018, at his residence. He was born December 20, 1931, in Dayton, Ohio, the son of
James Thurston and Dorthy Peffers Tyson. He was the minister of the Yellow Springs Christian Center,
and was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving during the Korean War. He is survived by his
wife, Andrea (Kelble) Shepherd Tyson, whom he married, August 7, 2004, two daughters, Raynee Lyn
Shepherd, New Carlisle, and Dawn (Boyd) Tyson Kodama, West Chester, PA, two step-daughters, Karen
(Mark) Staples, Huber Heights, and Rebecca Shepherd, Yellow Springs, grandchildren, Elizabeth (Allen)
Baker, Christy (Christopher) Crawford, all of New Carlisle, Benjamin (Leah) Shepherd, Brookville, Ethan
(Megan) Shepherd, West Carrollton, Jessica (Joe) Bernacki, Los Angeles, CA, Melanie (Alton) Hare,
Baltimore, MD, Michael Joseph, Nashua, NH, Zane Kodama and Levi Kodama, West Chester, PA,
step-grandchildren, Sarah Staples, Cincinnati, Heather (Adam) Goss, Kettering, and Anthony Mascola,
Yellow Springs, great-grandchildren, Lucas, Violet, Peyton, Trevor, Garret, Valerie, Ezekiel, Calvin,
Beckett, Lilly, and Ellianna, a niece and nephews, Tonja Morris, Robert Silvers, Jr., and Bryan Silvers, and
by his loving congregation and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, by his first wife,
Marilyn (Inman) Tyson, in May 1986, and by his second wife, Alice Johnson Tyson , a daughter, Joye
Denise Joseph, a step-son/son-in-law, David Shepherd, and by a sister, Deloris Silvers. Ray will be greatly
missed by all who knew and loved him. Services will be held at 10am, Saturday, October 6, at the Yellow
Springs Christian Center, 324 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Yellow Springs, OH, 45387, with Pastor
Charles Bunton officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-7pm Friday at the church. Burial will be in Glen
Forest Cemetery, Yellow Springs. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ohio's Hospice of
Dayton, 324 Wilmington Ave., Dayton, OH, 45420, in his memory. Condolences may be made to the
family at www.NeeldFuneralHome.com.