Adams-Green Funeral Home
http://www.adamsgreen.com
Christopher Tyler passed away on Saturday, June 15th , after a long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by family during his final hours.
Chris was born in Stockton, California on March 24th, 1962, to Spencer and Lilliane Tyler. Along with his brothers Peter and Alex, and sister Suzy, he spent his childhood years in the Land Park area of Sacramento, California. Chris attended Riverside Elementary School, Holy Spirit Elementary School, and McClatchy High School. His early years saw the beginning of a long tradition of always trying new things, including his first job as a newspaper carrier, appearing in high school drama productions, and joining the junior high football team.
Early in his adult life he moved to Los Angeles, before returning to Sacramento. He then became a successful hair stylist, which included running his own salon, a skilled salesman for many types of products, restaurant worker, bank representative, IT technician, and more. Each new job was approached with enthusiasm and creativity. More recently he worked as a contracted analyst supporting the Pentagon and the Department of Energy. He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees. Along with California, he resided in Georgia, Texas, and Virginia.
Chris's enlistment in the National Guard led to a long military career, where he became fluent in Arabic, was commissioned as an U.S. Army intelligence officer, and eventually retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During the U.S. Gulf War, he was actively deployed to Iraq, first as a soldier and later as a military contractor.
Never-ending hobbies and other interests kept Chris's life full. He would experiment with new styles of cooking and took up ballroom dancing, including Tango. Chris loved learning new things, became knowledgeable of many religions, enjoyed engaging in lively dinner conversations, and making new friends.
Chris's lifelong optimism proved infectious to those around him and never deserted him, even in his final days.
He is survived by his wife Lisa Tyler and their children Seth and Hope, children from three previous marriages, Eric, Michelle, Rebecca, Drew, Philo, and Spencer, many grandchildren, and his three siblings.
Chris will be missed by all who knew him.
LINKS
The Sacramento Bee
http://www.sacbee.com
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