John Theodore Tyree

John Theodore Tyree, 80, of Sharon, MA, died peacefully on December 26, 2022, at the VA Medical Center in West Roxbury, MA. He was the son of the late James T. Tyree, Sr., and the late Mamie Rose (McMillian) Paschal, and was preceded in death by his siblings, James “Jimmy” Tyree, Jr., Joseph “Joe” Tyree, Janet (Tyree) Credle, and Milton “Mike” Tyree.

John grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  He attended Cambridge High and Latin School, where he was the first African American drum major of the award-winning Cambridge Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corp and led the Cambridge Caballeros in performances at the Boston Hatch Shell, Boston Symphony Hall, and Carnegie Hall.  After graduating from high school, John enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving his country for 4 years during the Vietnam War and achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.  Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, John had a successful 30-year career as a salesman with the Anheuser-Busch Company, retiring in 1994.  Retirement afforded him more time to “minister to the couch”—a favorite pastime after church on Sundays, and to hone his self-taught tinkering skills, which he employed on various home projects that still evidence his exceptional attention to detail and dogged work ethic.

For 50 years, John was the devoted husband to Kay F. (Anderson) Tyree, with whom he built the Hair After Salon, one of the longest running businesses in the center of Sharon, MA.  He was a loving father to his two daughters, Tamra Tyree (Jeff) Moore of Arlington, VA, and Marquette Tyree (Astor) Heaven of Potomac, MD.  In their eyes, John was the consummate “girl dad,” and they always will cherish the sound life, parenting, and career advice that he imparted to them. 

John never met a person with whom he could not converse, and the love that he had for his family—his 5 grandchildren, Marlee, Mckinley, Miller, and Andie Heaven, and Harrison Moore; his sister, Frances “Lynne” Tyree of Cambridge, his brother, Alfred Daniel of Boston, and his many nieces and nephews—were evident to everyone he met.  The same is true of his enduring faith in God, and his ultimate prayer for all of us is that we find salvation.

John’s family is incredibly grateful for the wonderful care and support that he (and they) received from the many VA doctors, nurses, and others at the West Roxbury Medical Center and Brockton campus throughout the last year.  It is the family’s wish that in lieu of flowers, you please consider making a donation in John’s memory to the VA, https://www.va.gov/boston-health-care/work-with-us/volunteer-or-donate/.

VA Boston Healthcare System

Attn: Voluntary Service (135)

940 Belmont Street

Brockton, MA 02301

Funeral service is private.