8/29/24 - Funeral - Jim Tyre

Prelude - Becky Barnhill

Scripture Reading - Pastor Art Sauer

Isaiah 57:1–2 (ESV)

1 The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;

2 he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.

Welcome & Prayer - Pastor Art Sauer

Obituary - Pastor Art Sauer

James “Jimmie” Franklin Tyer III, 82, of Rocky Point, NC passed away Monday, August 26, 2024.

He was born December 23, 1941, in Tampa, Florida, the son of James Franklin Tyer II and Esther Savage Tyer. In addition to his parents Jimmie was preceded in death by his brother, William Michael Tyer and his granddaughter, Elizabeth Jo Ann Tyer.

Jimmie was survived by his loving wife, Mary Jo; his two sons and their wives, James (Annmarie) and John (Lori); his five grandchildren and their spouses, James V. (Margaret), John (Hanna), Kassidy (Aaron), Kristen (Hayden), and Andrew (Caitlin); and his six great grand babies. He was also survived by his brother, Charles Lynn Tyer and his wife, Pam along with his sister-in-law, Debbie Tyer.

Jimmie was a devout man of God, a hard-worker, and a family man. His biggest achievement and greatest joy were his sons, grandchildren, and his great grand babies. When Jimmie wasn’t loving on them, he spent his time in his church, tending and gardening his land, reading a book, and working at the fish market. He truly lived his life to the fullest, never wasting a minute.

Sharing Memories and Stories

Kassidy

James

John

Song - Shannon Sauer

Eulogy - Pastor Art Sauer

When I received the call on Monday from Mary Jo that Jim was going to the hospital

I was driving to the church.

I immediately messaged the deacons to pray for Jim.

I immediately got a phone call from the Chairman of Deacons Michael Ball

He wanted to know why Jim was in the hospital.

I remember telling him what I had heard and said

if you are going to the hospital let me know

Mike texted back he was going.

This way i could get to the church and drop my stuff, check in, and head out there myself

I just about stepped in my office when Mike called back and said Jim had passed.

That whole experience got me to thinking about how fast things can happen

To be sure that no one expected Jim to pass away this Monday

No one, including Jim, knew that he would be standing in the presence of Jesus when He was transported to the hospital

Jim, if anyone, would have wanted to have everything taken care of before he left this earth

However, in Jim’s case, Jesus needed him home

This allows me to remind those that will listen

we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow

success goes to the prepared

more than that, eternity goes to the prepared as well

Mr. Jim had prepared more than we will know

The best thing I can say about Jim now is that he prepared to be with Jesus

He had accepted the fact that he was a sinner

He had believed that Jesus died and rose for Him

and He placed Jesus as the Lord and Master of his life

He had prepared his wife and children for this time

Philippians 1:27 (ESV)

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

That was Jim. He lived his life worthy of the gospel of Jesus

I don’t know of a soul that could say otherwise of him

and he’ll be watching to see if you are truly standing firm in one spirit

even now that he’s left this earth

He wants to know that we all are standing side by side for the faith of the gospel

all unified in one spirit

working together for the kingdom of God

Now Jim liked to argue a little bit in life

That may be an understatement

There was his way and no other way as an option

He was what we would call willful

others refer to it a bullheaded, stubborn, bent

The night before Jim went to be with Jesus we had a deacons meeting

I’m not saying that the meeting had anything to do with helping Jim along

but we had discussions about some topics that may have allowed Jesus to work a little easier

He never got heated, but you knew where he stood

Jim and I could disagree

and he would do the whole head shake thing and we would move on

I’m sure he has all his questions answered about Calvinism and other theological debates now

The thing about disagreements with Jim

we could agree on the main things in life

and even if we had minor disagreements, which were few and far between

we could always work together in unity

Mary Jo and Jim functioned much the same way

I loved this couple because they reminded me of my own parents

Mary Jo would love to prod Jim and he would give it right back

It was similar to watching an All in the Family rerun at times

He loved you more than anything though

The last thing he said to me before he left here on Sunday night

was that he apologized for not staying for service

because he wanted to get home to take care of Mary Jo

When we talk about leaving a legacy

The Bible talks about it a lot

Proverbs 13:22 (ESV)

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children

Legacy is all about the lasting imprint that remains after a person is gone

When a celebrity is asked to leave their footprint in the Hollywood walk of fame

it’s because they have been at it for at least five years, have received an award, and have done some sort of philanthropic work

It’s a semi-permanent legacy for everyone to see

the imprints of their feet, hands, and whatever else they press into the concrete

remains for everyone to remember the works of film

or the awards they’ve accomplished

or the people and places they’ve helped

When a follower of Jesus leaves an imprint, they all look the same

Although their hands, feet, and faces may be pressed into to form

it is only the face of Jesus that remains once their feet, hands, face are removed from the mold

The imprint that Jim left behind was the imprint of Jesus

I remember talking to him about a number of things

He would ask me questions about all sorts of stuff

and I would challenge him about all sorts of stuff

but the thing I remember was the wisdom that he shared with me

it wasn’t just the experiential wisdom that he shared

it was experience that God led him through

Jim loved to teach

I think he loved to teach because he loved to be right

and in his mind he was always right so he loved to teach

and most of the time his was

I’ll miss him stopping by to ask some question at my door before the service

or picking up his half drunk coffee cup in his classroom the next day

or him stopping by or calling the office

just to talk about how stupid someone was

those times he was right

Jim liked to keep me out of trouble

the wisdom he possessed both through experience and scripture

would help in more times in my life than I can remember

He was on the committee to bring me into the pulpit as pastor

he was one of the first men that I would go to

when I had questions about ethics or theology

He was a by the book guy and kept me accountable

and whenever I had an idea

he was the first to bring up the constitution

and would question and call me out when I wanted to do something

Jim loved to work

He was the cut man for the Baptist Men

I don’t think he ever stopped

There were a few times that medically he had to

Even Mary Jo couldn’t get him to stop

the Sunday after his gall bladder surgery he was up teaching

When we asked him if he needed anything

He would answer I’ve got Mary Jo for that

He loved his family

He would do anything for his family

There were times that he wouldn’t be at the church

and it was more often than not because he was helping someone from his family do something

or visiting family

He was a loving husband, at times

He loved Mary Jo with all his heart

He loved his church

I’ve been with Jim at two different churches over almost 15 years

Jim would do anything for the churches he served in

Jim served with the Baptist Men building ramps for the community

He served as an usher

He served as a deacon

He served as a Sunday School teacher

He was able to do all these things

and leave imprints on all of us

because he loved Jesus most of all

The imprints and legacy that Jim leaves behind

although it’s easy to attach his name to it all

would only be possible because if you look closely at the imprint

it isn’t his, it’s his Savior and Master Jesus

Probably the things Jim would want out of this besides a shorter service

is he would want you all to know that he’s just fine where he is

he’s so much better off and completely healthy and healed

He’s probably having discussions with jesus about the sovereignty of God

and without a doubt, he wants to meet you in heaven one day

The only way to do that is through his lord and savior Jesus Christ

Jim was not a perfect man, and he knew that

he accepted the fact that he was separated from God from the beginning

that sin in every human beings life is what causes the separation from God

Romans 3:23 (ESV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

He understood that Jesus came and died to pay the penalty for his sin

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He believed that God gives us a choice to pay for our own sin

or that we can accept the free gift that God offers in Jesus Christ

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

he realized all that and had asked Jesus to forgive him of his sin

to be the savior and Lord of his life

and to try to live the rest of his life for Jesus

Romans 10:9–10 (ESV)

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

John 3:16 (ESV)

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

If you want to see Jim again

follow the imprints he left behind

and make a decision to follow the Jesus he left in those imprints

the only way to Jesus, eternal life in heaven, and to see Jim again

is through Jesus

John 14:1–6 (ESV)

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you want to leave the same legacy that Jim left

and you want to see him one day again

this is the only way, through Jesus

I would be glad to talk to you following the service today

I’m going to close in prayer

following the prayer, there will be a graveside service at Sea Lawn Memorial park in Hampstead

There will not be a funeral processional

all those that wish to attend we will meet there to conclude this service.

Please stand.

Closing Prayer - Pastor Art Sauer

Postlude - Becky Barnhill

Graveside

Psalm 23 (ESV)

A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This familiar psalm of David is usually what is read at graveside

I don’t know why it’s only read here at times

it’s such a great psalm

It’s a comfort to the family that God is always with us

regardless of what situation and circumstance we find ourselves in

I want to read a different scripture maybe more appropriate to the man we will miss

Romans 1:16–17 (ESV)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Whenever I talked with Jim it was always about Romans or Revelation

Knowing where he is now in Heaven

I’m not going to presume to talk about the Revelation of Jesus

and I have to say I’m a little bit jealous that he now has more knowledge than I do

and he indeed would be right

This verse in Romans is one of those verses that fits this moment

In a moment this casket that contains a body

will be lowered into the ground

The only thing is Jim isn’t here any more

He’s in heaven enjoying a glorified body

and pestering the apostles and Jesus about all the questions he had here on earth

What is here is the legacy of a man that lived out his righteousness

and lived out in the faith that he would see Jesus in eternity

He wasn’t ashamed of Jesus

He wasn’t always perfect either

but he lived out his faith the best he could for everyone to see

I know I’ll be the first to say that I’ll miss him

but, I know I’ll see him again someday

because we both were followers of Jesus

It is my plea that if there’s anyone that needs to know who Jesus is

and understand what He has done for us

please find me and we can talk about how you can also see Jim and Jesus in eternity