Tyrone Smith

Tyrone Smith, age 37, died Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at Fairview University Medical Center, Minneapolis. A Funeral Service will be held at 12 Noon on Tuesday, January 17 at the Spielman Mortuary, with the Reverend Kevin Johnson, officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Tuesday (10 AM-12 Noon). Interment Elmhurst Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be James L. Smith, Steven L. Smith, Demetrius Smith, Jason York, Melvin Smith, and Melvin Reese. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Ervin Smith, Dave Smith, Tony Smith, Garron Houston, Nicholas Smith, Anthony Gipson, Tracy Smith, and James Brown. Son, grandson, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend born Tyrone Smith, April 19, 1974 on a beautiful spring evening to delighted parents James and Lula in Tutwiler, Mississippi. Tyrone was a very busy and active child who grew up and remained an active young man until mid-summer 2011. After a dilligent and courageous fight, he succumbed to his illness late Wednesday evening, January 11, 2012 with his family, friends and physicians near his bedside at the University of Minnesota Hospital. He graduated from Como High School and went on to St. Paul Technical College where he took courses in woodworking. He was very good with his hands, always building and rebuilding things. When he was growing up, we could always find him in the backyard or garage, building on something from his bicycles to go-karts. There was never a day when he was up and about that he wasn't working on something. Tyrone was an early riser. Growing up in the midst of a houseful of sisters, he kept them busy, especially during school days when mom sent him to wake the girls up. That was the highlight of his morning because he wouldn't just call to them; he always had to find a way to make them mad by tickling them or soemthing just as annoying. Tyrone grew up in church but as he matured into a young man, he fell away and didn't go as often. All Praise to God that he had a chance to repent and give his hear to Christ and because of that, we have faith that he is now in a much better place. One brother and two sisters preceded Tyrone in death. He leaves to celebrate his homegoing, his parents, James and Lula; grandmother, Mattie; brother, James (Donna); 8 sisters, Martha, Betty, Barbara (Garron), Brenda, LaWanda, Quincella (Wilbert), Stacy, and Pamela; 8 nephews, Steve (Michelle), Melvin, Pernell, Jason, Demetrius, KeShawn, K'Juane, and Lennox; 7 nieces, Melissa (Jamal), Monique, Patrice, Geonia, Tamika, KaMesha, and Quiana; 5 great-nephews, DaMain, Jamal, Zae'Vair, Damani, and Adrean; 2 great-nieces, Lishell and A'Janae; 3 uncles, Dave, Jake, and Ervin (Michelle); 2 aunts, Alice (Ed) and Christine; 2 special friends, Charlen and Carolyn (Kay-Kay) and many, many cousins and friends. Whenever we were sad or upset about something, "Parole Cuz" as Tyrone was affectionately called, used to tell us about a little monkey who got part of his tail cut off - he said the little monkey looked back at his tail, shrugged and said, "It ain't long as it has been." So today, we can all rejoice and say "so long for now, 'cause it aint long as it has been."