Obituary of Eunice Marie McTyre

Eunice M. McTyre passed away peacefully in the early hours of November 28. She was 90 years old and proud of it. She was born on Aug 4, 1924, in Green Bay, Wisconsin and named Eunice Marie Charles. As the eldest of five children, she undoubtedly left no doubt in the minds of her siblings as to who was the big sister. After graduating from high school, she worked at several jobs to enable her to pay for college. She entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison, determined to do something with her life. Love intervened, however, when she met a young Army Air Corp cadet, Robert S. McTyre. Smitten with the ambitious and intelligent young woman, he declared to her on their first date, “I’m going to marry you.” And so he did on May 31, 1945. When World War II ended, Eunice and Bob settled in Wisconsin. Their first child, Craig Walker, was born a year later. A career move took the young McTyre family to Flint, MI, where their second child, Robert Wesley, was born in 1949. 1951 brought yet another move, this time to New York, where Eunice began a job at GMAC and Bob took a position with J. Walter Thompson. They were finally able to buy a house in 1952, and in 1953, their youngest child, Scott Bradley was born. Another career move for Bob had Eunice packing up her family and heading to Lakeland, Florida. Not long after, Bob landed a new job with the advertising company Campbell Ewald. The family bought a house in Birmingham, Michigan, where they managed to stay put for many years. While there, many happy summers were spent with Eunice’s parents, brothers, sisters, extended family and friends in an old but much loved cottage on Green Bay. Eunice often reminisced later, about the fun and joy of this time in her family’s life Through it all Eunice was an important support to Bobs advancing career in writing commercials first in radio and later on for that new medium television. In 1972, when Bob struck out on his own professionally her contributions became even more important. Bob was winning many top awards for his work, the two older boys had entered college, and Eunice decided it was time to make her mark on the world. She entered Oakland University, at last completing her college education, graduating with a major in sociology and a minor in anthropology. Just as she was beginning her graduate work at Wayne State University, Campbell Ewald promoted Bob to a job which would entail another move, this time to sunny California. They moved into their new home in Chatsworth in June of 1970, and were delighted with the weather and life-style of southern California. They especially enjoyed looking out on the many acres of orange trees behind their house. Just three months later they found themselves homeless. On September 25th they were evacuated by the fire department due to the raging Chatsworth-Malibu fire. They left carefully locking the door behind them. The next day they returned to find nothing standing except the chimney with all their possessions in ashes. Never again would there be orange groves behind their home. Nevertheless, they determined to rebuild and by August of 1971, were back in their home. And it was truly a new home as, typical of Eunice, she made notable changes to the floor plan to better suit her family’s needs. Eunice and Bob loved their house in Chatsworth and enjoyed many happy years there among their numerous good friends. Eunice loved to entertain and plan large parties. Among those parties was a reception when her son, Bob, married Nancy Pulk. Bob and Nancy eventually gave Eunice four grandchildren, who visited often and on whom she doted. And it was here that Bob and Eunice celebrated their 50 wonderful years of being together. There was sometimes sorrow. In 1996, their son Craig died. In 2006, Eunice’s beloved husband, Bob, passed away. And finally, in 2012, Eunice’s youngest son, Scott also passed away. Through it all, Eunice remained strong, even as she grieved. She was, truly, the bulwark and matriarch of her family. Maybe most importantly during this period of her life, Eunice found a calling to which she could dedicate all her energy and intelligence: trying to make her community better through local politics. She thoroughly enjoyed getting involved in the local political scene and fighting for issues in which she deeply believed. One of the issues she believed in was keeping an eye on local politicians, their spending and policies. Eunice was an instrumental member of the group Tax Payers Watchdog, eventually serving as secretary for the group. She backed and worked tirelessly for the passage of Proposition 13 (no need to explain to those of us in California what that is). In 1979, Jane Nerpel, a woman Eunice greatly admired, ran for city council and Eunice managed her campaign. Eunice became known for her hard work, her dependability, and her intelligence. She was a born manager. When political organizing needed to be done, people familiar with the behind-the-scenes action called Eunice McTyre. She knew who to contact and how to get things done. Eventually her worsening health slowed her down and she was less involved in politics than previously, though she could still be counted on for phone canvassing. And she still had her bridge games to sustain her. She loved bridge, loved its challenge, and loved a victory. She tried in vain to convince her children to take up the game but, alas, had to settle for beating them at Gin Rummy. Eunice leaves behind a family that loved her: her son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Nancy; four grandchildren, Jennifer, Michael, Catherine and Melissa and granddaughter-in-law Rachael; and two great grandchildren, Lauren and Benjamin. She is also survived by her brother Richard, his wife Alta, cousin Cecelia, and sisters-in-law Joan and Barbara. She has been interred alongside her devoted and beloved husband Bob at the Riverside National Cemetery for veterans in California. Eunice was highly intelligent, determined and strong. With her passing, a force of nature has left the world.