- Fairhaven historian, Tyrone Lieuallen Maybee Tillson died on May 3, 2002. He was born on February 3, 1941, in Seattle. His parents are Lorna (Maybee) Tillson and John Wood Tillson, of Warren, Oregon. After graduating from Shoreline High School, Tyrone attended Western Washington University. While at Western, where he took a degree in philosophy, he discovered the then quiet community of Fairhaven, which would later become the focus of his historical writing and intensive research. In the early ‘60's he joined the Navy Reserve. His stories most often filled with humor and described by a reviewer as Wild West prose, made local history lively and entertaining in the magazine "Fairhaven, the Gazette of South Bellingham" published by his wife. His recently published journal, "Bullcook, Life in the Bunkhouse", follows stories collected while working at Carnation Farms. Fairhaven history lived for Ty and in turn he made Fairhavenites proud of its heritage in articles, plaques and in blocks set at important sites along Fairhaven streets and trails. He visited his friend and mentor, historian Galen Biery, weekly for years as they exchanged stories about their century old ‘acquaintances'. Ty led history tours through Fairhaven and gave slide shows and talks to groups, including recent Southside ‘Story Nights". He was a board member and President of the Old Fairhaven Association. Ty was involved in raising the 103-foot flagpole in a Veterans Memorial at 12th and Mill. Sets of his vast research will be donated to the Northwest Region Archives, Whatcom Museum of History and Art, and Bellingham Libraries. Tyrone is survived by his wife of 18 years, Penny (Ginther) Tillson of Fairhaven, his parents Lorna and John Tillson, brothers Marc Lee Tillson and wife of Pateros, Washington and Todd Shaw Tillson and wife Susan of Warren, Oregon, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and a nephew. He was preceded in death by brother Jon Scott Tillson. Burial of Tyrone's ashes will be in Weston, Oregon, a town founded by his Oregon Trail ancestors. A Memorial celebration of his life will share stories by and about Tyrone on Friday, May 17 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Lairmont Manor, with a wake at Dos Padres following. Issue 54 August 5 2002 Memorials which will apply toward costs of hardcover binding his research can be made to the Tyrone Tillson Fairhaven History Project at Key Bank."
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1941 - 2002 (61 years)
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