James Tyler Duke

James Tyler Duke

James Tyler Duke, 20, of Mauriceville, TX passed away on September 19, 2024. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 28, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Mauriceville. Officiating will be Reverend Kevin Brown of First Baptist Mauriceville and Reverend Tyler Ellison of World Gospel Church. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange. 

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 27, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Mauriceville. 

Born in Mobile, AL on December 18, 2003, he was the son of Jimmy and Kristin Duke. Tyler was born weighing just 1lb 13oz, their miracle child. God’s grace and Tyler’s strength were evident during his time in the NICU. 

Tyler accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, was baptized at the age of 7, and served his Savior ever since by loving God and loving the people in his life well. Tyler was a faithful member of First Baptist Mauriceville as well as Holly Springs Baptist Church during his time at SFA State University. 

Tyler grew up loving sports and excelled at basketball, baseball and football. He spent every spring playing baseball at OYBS and continued on with Lighthouse, CCS and finished out his high school ball with his beloved GSF Hornets. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing with family and friends. He loved bass fishing and usually had a rod and a few baits in his truck or backpack just in case he saw some water that needed fishing. When Tyler harvested his first deer at 8 years old, his first response was to thank God. 

His favorite pastime, however, was spending time with people. Tyler loved people and reflected the love of Jesus to those around him. He was an amazing, selfless big brother to his siblings and cared deeply for fellow church members, friends and teammates. He was outgoing and quick to make friends. Tyler made people feel seen, valued and loved. He wanted everyone to know the love of God and feel the joy he had. His younger siblings adored their Ty Ty and he was the best big brother they could hope for. He took them fishing, hunting, played ball with them and even coached his youngest brother’s basketball team, but most of all he was silly with them and made them laugh. 

Tyler was talented at many things including playing guitar and drums which often used to serve in the church worship band and youth praise band. He also liked cooking and had to make sure his Momma saw whatever he made. 

Tyler leaves us a legacy of loving Jesus, living life to its fullest, and loving people. He will be loved deeply and missed terribly by those blessed to have known him. 

He is survived by his parents, Jimmy and Kristin Duke of Mauriceville, TX; sisters Shelby and Ainsley Duke, brothers Isaac and Christian Duke, all of Mauriceville, TX; Grandparents Richard and Susan Duke of Tioga, LA and Tommy and Sharon Turner of Pineville, LA along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who will cherish the memories of Tyler’s loving kindness. 

Serving as pallbearers will be Rick Duke, Justin Foster, Noah Roberts, Timothy Weaver, Matthew Brown and Tyler Ellison. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Duke, Tommy Turner and the GSF Hornets. 

 In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to FBC Mauriceville Children’s Playground fund. 

Proverbs 21:21 

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.