Harold Eugene Tyson

Harold "Squire" Eugene Tyson, 95, of Beardstown, died peacefully on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, surrounded by family.

He was born August 16, 1929, in Scab Holler, Schuyler County, the son of Guy and Elsie Skiles Tyson. He married Mary Ellen Toland in Rushville on June 30, 1957.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Ellen (Toland) Tyson of Beardstown; son Stan of New Berlin; daughter Laura (Mike) Dolezal of Chester, Idaho; son Scott (Jeanne) of Inkom, Idaho; daughter Karin (Angela) of Belleville; two grandsons Jacob Dolezal, Benjamin Dolezal; three granddaughters Kaitlyn Dolezal, Megan Tyson, Madison Tyson; one great-grandson Kaysen Dolezal; one brother Jerry Tyson of Macomb; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Dick Tyson and his parents.

Harold graduated from Rushville High School in the class of 1947. He served in the Army on the front line of the Korean War from 1951-1953, earning a Purple Heart. He graduated from barber school in 1954 and went on to serve as a locally famous tonsorialist in Beardstown for 67 years. He loved his customers. His barber shop was a bit of quiet jazz, buzzing clippers, the smell of Barbasol, arrowheads, carved ducks, tall tales, and raunchy jokes, all mixed with lots of laughs. When he was with his brothers, they were pretty entertaining. To this day, we don't know if most of their stories are true or not.

There wasn't a musical instrument he couldn't play, being especially good at the harmonica and banjo. He loved this community, and they loved him back. He must have re-laced over 1000 broken baseball gloves for free to give back to the community. He was considered an expert on local history, writing two books on the history of Beardstown, and was interviewed by PBS and other major Illinois news stations and newspapers. As a river authority, he never turned down fresh catfish or carp from the locals. Harold was a Beardstown Elks Lodge #1007 member and served on the Beardstown sanitary district until January. He was especially fond of the Mascouten Bay Longrifle Club, which he founded in 1970, and the many friends he made there through the years. He spent a lot of time at his piece of ground in Schuyler County, dubbed "Squire's Station," with two restored primitive cabins and a rifle range, and on his artistry work, building many antique replica long rifles and pistols, carved powder horns, axes, and beautiful leatherwork. He read countless books on the history of Indians. Squire has asked to acknowledge that the land known as Beardstown was inhabited by very powerful Native American tribes, originally by the Mascouten Indians, the Kickapoo Indians, and the Potawatomi Indians. He recognized their deep connection to Mound Village, the Illinois River. He wanted to express his gratitude to them as the original caretakers of this land, as he had a profound spiritual bond with Potawatomi Indian Manuwatsu, the American Indians, and the Great Spirit.

The family would like to thank the neighbors, specifically Wally and Missy Meyer, Kelly and Mike Hardwick, Randy and Jamie Epping, Julie Theivagt, and our many cousins, who have all kept a close watch and brought many meals to Harold and Mary in their aging years, sometimes sharing Harold's shenanigans for a good laugh. They also thank their Pinochle Club friends, with whom they made so many great memories for over 60 years.

Harold believed he lived so long because, as a child, he frequently walked 5 miles to school in the cold and snow. He reminded us how lucky we were to live a stone's throw from our school. He referred to himself as a scallywag. Barber, historian, gunsmith, storyteller, artist...so many words to describe him, but to us, he was simply the kindest, most generous husband, dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa. He was pleased with his life, took pride in caring for his wife these last few years, and treasured this community and the people in it. He will be sorely missed.

True to his nature, Harold was unwavering in directing how his burial should be arranged with "no boohooing" and "no pomp and circumstance." He wanted to be remembered for laughs and lies. He will be privately laid to rest at Messerer Cemetery, with Colwell Memorial Home in Beardstown handling arrangements. An open celebration of life will be held later in the summer.

Memorials have been suggested to Culbertson Memorial Hospital or Beardstown Health & Rehab Activity fund - both of whom the family would like to thank for their heartfelt care. Condolences may be left online at www.colwellmemorialhome.com or on Facebook at Colwell Memorial Home.