Mr. Spencer A. Tyson

Spencer A. Tyson departed his earthly life Tuesday, April 11, 2023, aged 82 years. A native son of Alton, Illinois, his parents were Mary F. (Hinton) and Claude Tyson. Spencer spent his formative years in Dogtown, which no longer exists, and East Alton. He attended Alton Senior High School, but graduated in California after enlisting with the U.S. Marine Corps. When he came back to Alton, he worked jobs at the old Tri-City grocery store and for Standard Oil while getting his bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Spencer married Lois Granger of East St. Louis, Illinois, had two daughters, and traveled with his job as an Equitable Life Insurance salesman. He earned a master's degree and certificate which enabled him to become a pensions analyst. Mr. Tyson enjoyed cultural pursuits, like traveling, eating good food, reading books, and listening to jazz and classical music. He had a wry sense of humor with a deadpan delivery and ribbed his loved ones gently, also knowing when to poke fun at himself. Family was important to him, and he doted on them. He was a man who would help without complaint. Spencer spent his last 42 years living in the Chicagoland area. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife of almost 60 years, Lois; his two daughters, Kimberly and Nicole; his son-in-law, Nathan Goldbaum; his sister Anita and brother-in-law, Freddie Carter, his sisters-in-law, Mary Lauburg and Eloise Granger; and brother-in-law John Barry, Sr. Also left to bear living witness to his memory are his nieces and nephews: Dayne Tyson, Bonita & Larnel Washington, Lorraine Lucas, D. Tyson, Nathan & Tobie Tyson, Regan Hickman, Sheila Patterson, Deidra & Dennis Moore, Jimmie & Ivy Wilson, Debra Wilson, Missy White, Charles Cooper, Mark & Anne Lauburg, Dr. Vanessa Cohen-Gibbons & Jen Gibbons, John & Angel Barry, Dawn Burton, and Jerome Burton. A memorial service will be held at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake Street in Oak Park, Illinois, on Friday, April 21, 2023. The visitation starts at 4:00 PM and the service starts at 5:00 PM. Memorial arrangements are planned for Alton for a future date. (Submitted by Kimberly Goldbaum)