David Kenneth Tyler

David Kenneth Tyler, 66, of Pawcatuck, CT, passed away on Monday, February 14, 2022 at Westerly Hospital. Born in Plymouth, MA on January 5, 1956, he was the son of the late Roy W. and Dorothea F. (Brady) Tyler.
   David K. Tyler lived and breathed New England. He grew up in the beach town of Marshfield, MA and was a proud graduate of Marshfield High School. 1974-1976 he honorably served and protected his country and for that we thank him. Dave was ever the free spirit, moving from MA to RI back to MA (of course there was a spattering of a few other states in betweeen) but he finally settled down in CT for his last remaining years.
   When it came to working, he was the living definition of a "jack of all trades". Dave was very accomplished in whatever he set his mind to. He enjoyed working with his hands and being outdoors so it is not surprising that some of his occupations included: working on cars, boats, submarines, rollor coasters, go-karts, and stiching bouncy castles. Dave worked most of the 90's at The Enchanted Forest in Hope Valley, RI. He did a short stint in retail work, landscaped and did electrical work with his good friend Charlie Sifter but no matter where life brought him, he always seemed to circle back to the fields of carpentry and painting to make his living.
   Dave was very much like the onion Shrek speaks of, with so many layers. Ever the outdoors man, during his leisure time, Dave could be found fishing, bicycling, hunting, camping, walking, canoeing, going for joyrides and sometimes just relaxing at the beach taking in sights and sounds. He always said there is no other air like the fresh ocean air. He enjoyed reading the newspaper comics and using both the landscapes he encountered in his travels and the characters he enjoyed from the comics to inspire his own art. He greatly enjoyed sketching with chalk pastels and colored pencils but also being an avid 'Joy of Painting' viewer and fan, he took after the hosts William Alexander and Bob Ross, and painted with oils and acrylics too. Dave's insignia on his finished works was the morphed combination of his intitials (DKT) which is the tattoo he had on his left forearm.
   Dave was undeniably a foodie. He delighted in cooking and eating foods in almost equal measure. His life was near perfect if there was Klondike bars, prime rib steak/roast, anchovies, gravy, oreos, potatoes, onion, whole milk, pomagranite, blue corn chips, Calise onion rolls, razor clams, butternut squash, LOL butter, his mother's rice pudding, Cherry Garcia ice cream, PB&J sandwiches, Pillsbury anything, supreme style pizza, sweet potato pie, mixed nuts (salted or honey roasted) and homemade stuffed grapeleaves available. Beverages of choice were rootbeer, orange soda, grape soda, tea with honey and lemon or orange tang, coffee regular and Budwiser.
   Dave's neatness, attention to detail, need to collect elastics, bandanas, and index cards in addition to his amazing retention of the names of classic actors/actresses, singers and their songs was unrivaled. His competitiveness was comical and endearing especially when fishing and playing gin rummy with his daughter Rebecca. He loved listening to music and singing a tune in the car on occassion but he was recently outed to be a kareoke enthusiast in his youth.
   He was a devoted sci-fi Trekkie for sure, watching both the movies and tv series repeatedly. Many sci-fi shows made it to his play list including Brisco County Jr, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Twilight Zone and Quantem Leap. He also enjoyed watching the classic Westerns featuring the cowboys potrayed by John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. Dave's more recent comedy action hero was Dwayne Johnson.
   He took pride in his accomplishments and took the time to teach his daughter Rebecca a few of the fundamentals of life including but not limited to the following: car maintenance, how to fold hospital corners, how to use a toaster oven and broiler to make grill recipes, the perfect way to order a roastbeef sub, the perfect way to order a tunafish sub, that all you can eat prime rib at Horsefeathers is the only way to spend Thursday night, that movie tickets can be a most precious keepsake, how to spackle and paint interiors of houses/Apartments and how to master the MBTA to get to said houses and apartments.
   He leaves his daughter Rebecca Elizabeth Spurrier; his brother Stephen Tyler and his wife Loreene Tyler; his sister Patricia Graham and her husband Billy Graham; niece Jacqueline Tyler and her fiance Kevin Colizza; nephew Stephen Tyler Jr and his wife Danielle Tyler; along with his late brother Bruce Tyler's family; lastly the mother of his dughter Rebecca and his long time friend Joanne Spurrier. Dave was preceded in Death by his parents Roy and Dorothea Tyler; his brothers Bruce Tyler and Phil Tyler; and pets Dude (dog) and Miss Piggy (Betta Fish).
   Dave was a quietly stubborn, charismatic, thoughtful, sentimental, talented and quirky father, brother, uncle and friend, that left an impression with you no matter how brief the encounter. You couldn't help but love him and be intregued to learn more about him. He was loved more and by more people than he ever realized. David will be sorely missed by friends and family alike.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to the ASPCA https://www.aspca.org/

Funeral services will be held privately at the convenience of the family. Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St. Westerly, RI is assisting the family with arrangements.

For online condolences, please visit www.buckler-johnston.com