Joan Crawford Tyler, 88, formerly of Montclair, died on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019.
Mrs. Tyler was born on Nov. 21, 1930, and was the eldest daughter of Maryland and Edna Harris of Macon, N.C.
Mrs. Tyler began her education in Littleton, N.C., where she and her sister, Gloria lived with their maternal grandparents on their farm. Their mother moved to New Jersey to increase her opportunities for employment.
When the girls were teenagers, they relocated with their mother to Montclair and attended Montclair High School. Mrs. Tyler later attended secretarial school.
She met Charles “Buddy” Tyler, also from Montclair. Buddy was drafted into the army, where he held the position as a military police officer. Upon returning home, they married and lived in Montclair.
After the birth and death of their first child they moved to East Orange. Mrs. Tyler was employed with several insurance companies as a secretary, and later retired from Benisch Insurance Company in East Orange.
After retirement, the couple vacationed with friends and family and after multiple golf visits to Myrtle Beach, S.C., they relocated there in 1995.
Mrs. Tyler enjoyed the beach, sewing, reading and word searches. Mrs. Tyler later developed an interest in painting at the nearby senior center. She created an art room in her home and sold two of her paintings at an art show.
In October 2018, Mrs. Tyler moved back to New Jersey and stayed with her daughter until moving into a senior apartment in Piscataway.
Mrs. Tyler was predeceased by her son Ronald and her husband Buddy in 1995.
She is survived by her daughter Jean, her grandson Tyler, her sister Gloria Harris a half-sister Patricia Henderson and her nieces and nephews Brian, Bruce, Tracy, Shelly, Judy and many other relatives and friends.